Church Life, General, Theology. Christians have always confessed that God is totally, completely, and exhaustively sovereign over all things, including you and I, and over both good and evil. No, we may not understand everything that happens to us—but when we know Christ, we know we are on the winning side. So He definitely knew that Adam and Eve would sin. By Billy Graham   •   *If you would like to talk with a mentor about your answers or in general, please submit your information at the end of this section. God is authoritative in all things. If God is in control of everything, why do bad things happen to us? A: I’ve been asked hundreds of times why God allows evil to take place, and I have to tell you honestly that I do not know the answer—not fully. When people told me that God loved me, I thought, If God loves me, then why did this happen to me? If He did, everyone would be saved—because, as Scripture tells us, God “wants everyone to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. Inhale:Rely on God to fill you by His Spirit. At the same time it caused others to re-examine their faith in God. One person found this helpful. We see unjust, uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. I wondered why hard things happened when a loving God was supposedly in control. Read more quotes from Epicurus. It’s a phrase we use often, mostly as an easy slogan when something goes wrong. What Should I Expect From Myself in 2021? And the main reason we are to pray is so that God will give us peace that the gospel might spread and more people be saved. Phone: (303)797-1139 Email: [email protected] There will be times when God places us in situations that cause us to realize our insufficiency and depend more on him. Friends Who Liked This Quote. Recommend to friends.   •   Topics: Suffering. IF GOD IS IN CONTROL THEN WHY...? deals with that difficult question about the nature of God that plagues the minds of most people. … Amazon Customer. Earlier in this book (1:8) Paul says, "we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life." Would you like to discuss anything in particular? God is in control. God often allows failure to point us to one critical truth: we can't live the Christian life on our own. Tania Harris. The Lord can put a restraint upon Satan as He chooses. Why does God allow failure and disappointments to happen if he's really in control? You could try spiritual breathing to rely on the Holy Spirit by faith throughout your day. But what do we mean by this? "If God is in control, then why...?" This video is unavailable. The vast spiritual conflict between Satan and God that has raged from the beginning of time will be over, and God will be triumphant. If God is in control, then I don’t need to be concerned with anything, all will be fine. The Christian cannot accept the claims of some that God “is not perfect and there are some things God does not control.” My wife, Barb, and I suffered the … I hope you can see, though, the slippery slope that statement is. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. By submitting, I accept The Life’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. God Is In Control. Let go of worry, fear or self-reliance. If God is in control, how are we to understand the bad things that happen to us? ©2021 BGEA Isn’t it better to face life’s problems with God rather than without Him? “God is in control, ” we say when someone dies; when we lose our job; when our health fails. Just fill out the form below and one of our mentors will contact you as soon as possible. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 MSG) And if man is open to propaganda and ideology then the terms of man’s political relationship with God can be altered, which is what happened. Only Jesus lived the Christian life perfectly, so if anything of eternal value is going to be accomplished through us, he is going to have to do it! Share this quote: Like Quote. Despite what some Christian circles preach, free will does exist; God doesn’t control the clothes you wear, the food you eat, or the decisions you make, whether good or bad. May 15, 2014. Nothing escapes God's notice; nothing oversteps the boundaries of His power. About the Author. Whether you are a lifetime believer in Christ or you have just begun looking for answers, the question, "If God is in control, then why...?" It's free, anonymous, and confidential! Read more. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. When you realize you’ve sinned, or when temptation, stress or doubt weighs on your mind, you can…. Every situation can have the effect of molding us into Christ's image: “And we 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. Have you ever wondered why there is so much evil and injustice in the world? has probably been one you have heard or asked many times in your life. Permissions So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. We need to choose with our will, not our feelings, to form a habit of giving thanks in the middle of suffering. Just fill in the form below and one of our mentors will get back to you as soon as possible. After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Watch Queue Queue. The Bible talks about “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thessalonians 2:7, KJV)—and that’s what evil is: a mystery. Will Graham Q&A: What Good Can Possibly Come from COVID-19? Lastly, God’s permission for Satan or man to act is nevertheless part of God’s ultimate design and final control. How do we get it? Home What hit home for you in this article? Will Graham: A Story on Social Distancing from the Old Testament, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 As a polio survivor from infancy, I had multiple surgeries each year, living in and out of the hospital. There will be times when God places us in situations that cause us to realize our insufficiency and depend more on him. Family Foundations International 8370 W. Coal Mine Ave. Ste 102 Littleton, CO 80123. It seems to match the spirit of Mathew 6, where we are commanded not to worry. Is God ever the author of them? It is only because God is in control that “we KNOW all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” There is no chance of Him failing, no chance of the employees upsetting the plan of the CEO (the analogy the article used), because even the rebellion of the employees is part of the script the CEO wrote. It can quickly go far beyond just being content and free of worry to apathy. In fact, some might even wonder why, if God knew ahead of time all the trouble they would cause, He made them in the first place. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. We become bitter to the degree we don't give thanks to God. If God is in control of everything that happens in the universe, then He is in control of everything that happens in your life as well. If you are struggling with who you are, why not contact one of our online mentors to talk about it? forgiveness and power to make better choices. Why doesn’t He stop it? That means your divorce, your affair, your lapse of judgment, your squandered opportunities, your failed business venture, your bankruptcy, your poor choices—these do not loosen God’s grip on the direction of your life at all. May God bless you as you discover more deeply the answer to life’s question, "If God is in Control, Why is my Life Such a Mess?" Isaiah 45:7 tells us, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!! I’m trying to respond here to someone who says, “Well, God doesn’t control everything, but he permits lots of things.” That is why, as a sinner, you can at any point turn to God to give your life to Him. But let me tell you three very important truths about evil that might help you. So keep praying for our leaders. This doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us—but even when they do, we can know God is with us, and He will give us strength to stand against them. Sharon Dirckx. God’s Ultimate, Exhaustive Sovereignty – #GospelFoundations. Billy Graham’s Answers for Hard Times. This message will help you understand the answer. You have nothing to hang on to.” “If God chooses not to control all things, however, then there is something you can do about it. 2:4)But because He respects the freedom of man to choose, God doesn’t force salv… Do as I... Do you know the importance of the baby in the manger? It isn’t promised that we will understand why God didn’t stop some tragedy from striking, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. Read Making Sense of Suffering. If God is the sort of God who is capable of ordaining such evils, then you can’t trust God’s character. He uses difficulties to teach us to walk by faith and to equip us to make eternal investments in the lives of others. We experience the consequences of … Third, the Bible tells us that in the meantime, God can give us victory over evil. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than … Comment Report abuse. First, the Bible tells us that evil does not come from God, nor can we blame God for all the evils in the world. The first step to dealing positively with failure or disappointment is recognizing that God has allowed or placed us in these situations to add eternal value to our character – that he is accomplishing a good work in us that will far outlast the present disheartening situation. It may be hard to see how Adam and Eve’s falling into sin could bring glory to God. It is often asked why is there suffering in the world if God is all-powerful and loving. What a perspective! Why not commit your life to Him today? Contact Us. That means the use of the phrase “God is in control” can be misleading. Someday all evil will be cast “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, KJV). Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, NIV). Any use or disposition He chooses to make of any part of His creation is His sovereign right. You also, as a saved person, need to choose to die daily but if you decide that you no longer want to be with God because the things of the world are more appealing to you then … Our mentors are not counsellors. Why doesn’t He intervene? In this short video clip, I address Mary’s questions. Sharon Dirckx is an Academic Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). He also doesn’t pick and choose who gets saved, who rebels, who accepts Jesus and who doesn’t. “Pray continually. It can cause us to blame God for the things that go wrong, while shirking responsibility for our own actions. God's control of Satan. Paul knew that his trouble would make his ministry much more powerful. No ma’am. July 20, 2016 They are ordinary Christians willing to step out in faith and join people on their spiritual journey in a compassionate and respectful manner. He can direct their hearts to do his will, whether they believe in him or not. I'd like to believe in God, but I just can't understand this. Exhale: Admit your sin to God—no excuses—take full responsibility for your mistake and resolve not to repeat it. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.". Local: 704-401-2432 We ask for gender and age to assign you the appropriate mentor. Both evil and Satan are real, and the two go hand-in-hand. Then why call him God?” ― Epicurus tags: atheism, god, religion. God’s love creates the possibility of freedom and freedom means there are real choices. He reports to nobody. If God Is In Control, Then Why… ? Just as you need to constantly breathe physically, you need to breathe spiritually, too. Why does God allow failure and disappointments to happen if he's really in control? God is the creator and controller of the universe and all that is in it, whether animate or inanimate. When Paul speaks of "light and momentary troubles," we know that his trouble was actually severe, but in comparison to what was being gained and accomplished in his life and ministry – it was insignificant. If God exists, then why doesn't He just stop evil? A few weeks after the September 11 crisis our nation went to war against terrorism and it seemed as though our world was spinning out of control. God often allows failure to point us to one critical truth: we can't live the Christian life on our own. For more information about subscriptions, click here. Experiencing God's Sovereignty During Dark and Difficult Days book. Charles Stanley … 7. Helpful. My confidence in the future rests in my confidence in the God who controls history. Your freedom abounds through all things. To see what your friends thought of this quote, please sign up! God is accountable only to Himself. Filled with personal reflections from Dr. Youssef's own life, this book will show you how to recognize God… What are some other reasons God allows suffering? Where Are You, God? Because God is in control we can trust that he is working all things for our good God is omniscient (Psalm 139:1–6), and He knows the future (Isaiah 46:10). Terry has been told that, ‘God is in Control,’ which means that ‘God’ allowed or caused this man’s family to die a horrible, tortuous death for some unknown supposedly ‘godly’ reason because as we all know, Yahweh will only do or allow godly things to occur. “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25, NLT). July 1, 2015 4 Min Read (Not Including Audio/Video) TMM User TMM User. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. What do you do when the roof falls in? Let's resolve to focus on what he has given rather than on what is gone. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord (Job 1:12). Can He or is He weaker than we think? Second, the Bible tells us that someday all evil will be banished. Privacy - PR12054112 If God is in Control Why is My Life Such a Mess? TEXT: 1 Chronicles 29:10-12. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Receive His hope, confidence, Watch Queue Queue I’ve been asked hundreds of times why God allows evil to take place, and I have to tell you honestly that I do not know the answer—not fully. God is in control of everything that happens in His universe/creation God does have the power to control everything that exists and everything that happens. - Luke 10:27. Circumstances are not truly out of control; they are used for our good in the hands of a loving God! If God is in Control, Then Why...?. INTRODUCTION: The September 11 crisis took our world by surprise and caused many to question who is in control of world events. Suffering can fall into three simple categories: emotional, mental, and physical suffering. Expressing gratitude regularily will reminds us that he is in control and working to produce and refine treasures in us that will not fade away, but last for eternity. In fact, he says, it "far outweighs them all." You are most like Jesus when you’re serving others. God is in control of our leaders. Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014. God’s Eternal Plan One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. If God is in Control, then Why…? The question then becomes if God is truly good, how could He allow so many people to die as the result of something under His control? If God is truly in control, He must be able to control weather events and natural disasters. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If God is in Control, Why is My Life Such a Mess?, illustrates why bad things happen to us. 26. He is not required at any time to give to any person any explanation for anything He says or does. Satan’s control. has probably been one you have heard or asked many times in your life. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. If God controls each and every event, from the tiniest to the greatest, and has already decided what will happen, then why pray? She holds a Ph.D. in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge and has conducted research at the University of Oxford, UK and the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. Why does God allow natural disasters? Evil comes instead from Satan, and it entered this world when Satan deceived Adam and Eve and caused them to turn against God. If I thought even for one moment that a single molecule were running loose in the universe outside the control and domain of almighty God, I wouldn’t sleep tonight. If there is a loving God, then why does He permit heinous crimes like this?