When I was desperate, I called out

This morning while doing my Bible study, I was reflecting on this verse,

“When I was desperate, I called out, and GOD got me out of a tight spot!”
-Psalm 34:6 MSG

I was remembering times when I have felt desperate and realized that those times of desperation often involved conflicts between Christians, either between individuals or between groups of Christians. My deep desire is ALWAYS for reconciliation and when that doesn’t happen, I am overwhelmed. “Why can’t this be worked out?” “Why can’t there be forgiveness, mercy, grace?” “Why can’t we all just ‘get along’?” “Why can’t reconciliation happen?” “Why won’t they just do what I say/want?” Unfortunately, there have been multiple opportunities for God to rescue me from my desperation. One truth that has emerged is the truth that I can’t control these situations/people. Hmph!! I guess I’ve needed to learn that lesson over and over. Today, as I reflected on that truth, this additional truth/corollary came to me: God IS in control; Only God is Sovereign. However, I actually hate it when people say this! Not because it is not true but because of what I THINK they mean when they say it. Often what is suggested by this statement is that God has caused this (whatever “this” is) to happen or that God has approved of what is happening, because “God is in control; God is sovereign.” It is the implication that because God is sovereign, this (again, whatever “this” is) was “His will.” And here I go, up on my soapbox. Not everything that happens is God’s will. And we can’t just “decide” something was God’s will because it will make us feel better, relieve our guilt, and/or remove any responsibility we have to bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control to the situation. We need to show greater discernment when using the expressions, “God is in control;” or “God is sovereign.” Yes, these statements are true. God is Sovereign; God is in control. But, what do we mean by such statements. Back to my Bible study this morning: The epiphany came when I said to myself, “I can’t control these situations/people. Only God is in control/sovereign.” What struck me this time about these proclamations was that I need to recognize and affirm God’s sovereignty/power to act in our lives and yes, he might even call me/use me to act in a situation but even he does not always exert his control/power over us (even though he could). So, who am I to desire control over the actions of others when the God of the Universe continues to show such great restraint in dealing with our behaviors/actions/sins? Am I making any sense? For me, this brought great relief. I can acknowledge that I am not in control. I can also acknowledge that God is in control without assuming that he caused something to happen, or that he approved of what happened, or that he will correct what has happened. In his great wisdom, he MIGHT intervene or he MIGHT allow things to proceed. I do know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I don’t always know what this is going to look like, how He will work, how quickly it will happen, or what the “good” is that He is working for. But I know that God is God and I am not and this comforts me in my desperation.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
- Psalm 94:19