Do you know that God has a perfect plan for you? I do. Do you always understand what God’s plan is for you? I do not. Do you make plans for yourself without seeking guidance from God? I must admit that I frequently do. What is it about God being in control that brings hope? Let me share with you what I have learned about God’s sovereignty and hope.
I said I make plans without consulting God. I know that it is futile for me to do that but I do not want to give up my “control”. Proverbs 19:21 makes it clear that my plans do not matter apart from God, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (ESV) So, when my plans are not in accord with God’s purposes for me then they will not be successful.
I have also found that I do not understand God’s purposes for me. I do not understand why I am struggling or why everything is perfect. The Apostle Paul explains why this is true in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (ESV) I have found however, that I do not understand I just need to trust God. Again, the Apostle Paul explains this to me, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us[b] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6 (ESV)
One of my favorite books in The Holy Bible is Job. It is because I see the sovereignty of God in it. I see that there is always hope. I may have questions but ultimately as Job came to the conclusion that God is God and I am not. I have chosen to accept and to have joy in all my circumstances whether they are good or bad. I always have hope when I look to God and not myself.
I pray that you come to the place where you can trust completely in the sovereignty of God because in it there is hope. Know you can trust the promises of God and realize the same love and hope that only comes from Jesus. It is through a relationship with God through Jesus that solves the problem of sin and brings us hope in the present and the future. I would also encourage you to seek Jesus for He is the only opportunity there is to have eternal life. This is to me the greatest source of hope. In doing so, I believe we will have hope and joy in our everyday lives. Understanding how Jesus Christ grants us access to eternal life, allows us to live in hope. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV) At the same time understanding you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ will also bring you the greatest hope. Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for sins. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because holiness shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
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You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
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