Is anyone in charge?

Articles are supposed to begin with what is called, a “hook.” That is, writers are taught to employ one of numerous literary devices intended to immediately capture the reader’s attention and interest, so they feel compelled to keep reading. I’m not sure it always works, but perhaps it does on occasion? Are you still reading, if so – you’ve been hooked. At least so far.

I mentioned that for this reason; as I began writing this week, I looked back at what I had written and discovered it was the opposite of a hook. In fact, how I originally began this article was so sad and sullen most everyone would (understandably) turn the page and find something a little less somber to consume with their morning coffee. Yet, let’s be honest; life isn’t always sunshine, clear skies and butterflies. Instead, life can be brutal. Anyone who has lived any measurable time on this fallen planet can verify, life has a way of knocking the breath out of you. Those of us in the ministry often have the privilege of seeing God do mighty and miraculous things in people’s lives. Such as, delivering people from addiction, restoring marriages, saving souls, and granting inexplicable peace amid turmoil. It is a unique honor to see the Lord work in these ways.

However, pastors and clergy also frequently encounter some of life’s most heartbreaking moments. We are often called upon to minister to folks facing unforeseen trials and difficulties. We meet with the broken, sit with them and weep with them, when their world has been turned upside down. Death and disease often come unpredictably and we are eye-witnesses to faith-rattling, family-ending tragedy. In these hours, the Christian faith is often questioned and people wonder where was God and why did He let this happen? For example, last week I spoke with this wonderful and godly lady who has endured far too much suffering in her life. Years ago, her husband unexpectedly died of a heart attack before his 50th birthday. Not long ago, she buried her youngest son from complications from cancer treatment. And now, her only remaining child has been placed under Hospice care.

Two months ago, I preached the funeral of a father of four, whose youngest son was only 12 years old. His beautiful family now face life without their loving father and provider. This past weekend, I received word a longtime friend and ministry mentor died. This faithful pastor had stayed in my home numerous times and was instrumental in the church here in Perry calling me as their pastor. After supporting her husband for decades as he poured his life into pastoral ministry, his sweet wife faces the unknowns of widowhood. A few weeks ago, I got a late-night text from a friend who had, without warning, lost a family member at a young age. On and on I might go … And I well imagine, some of you reading this article are still reeling and healing from some past emotional trauma that left you exhausted, empty and questioning.

The truth is, these few examples are just a fraction of all the hurt and heartache that is going on at any given moment on planet earth. Right now, a forgotten war continues to be waged in Ukraine. Despots and tyrants ravage and destroy entire villages and people groups in foreign lands. Genocide and persecution are rampant in numerous countries. This is a world at war. Every person on Earth is faced with uncertainty and an unknown tomorrow.

What do we do when life seems unfair? When tragedy strikes? When civilizations are slaughtered? When cancer comes? When death steals a loved one? Where do we turn for answers? Is there anyone really in charge of world events? Is there any rhyme or reason to the things that happen to us? Is there some big guy in the sky in charge? Or, does karma and chaos randomly rule this world? Are the events of life the result of cosmic coincidence? Is there a god governing things? And if so, why doesn’t he intervene? These and many other questions come to our mind when heartache wrecks our home or when calamity comes.

While I do not pretend to understand why God allows all He does, this much we can know from Scripture; God is good. And all He does is good. All He allows will work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Though we often struggle to truly believe this, the God of the Bible is just, holy, righteous, and perfect in all His ways and everything He brings to pass has a divine purpose. I certainly cannot explain why the Almighty doesn’t intervene in certain situations, or why He doesn’t heal, or deliver? Yet the Christian faith compels us to trust who God is, and what is true about Him, even when, or especially when, we don’t understand what He allows. Someone has rightly said, the Christian can trust God’s heart, even when we cannot trace His hand.

When catastrophes come, in whatever form, we must not question nor abandon the Sovereignty of God. Nor should the believer doubt God’s loving care for His children just because life gets crazy hard.

The truth is, it is only the Christian faith that offers any tenable explanation or answers to why things are the way they are, and whether there is a point to our pain. Without God, life and all its ups and downs, is completely random and ultimately pointless. But with God, you can have confidence there is Divine design behind life’s difficulties. The Bible teaches, and faith compels the Christian to embrace this truth; God is indeed in charge, and though we are tried and tested, our Father loves us.

What is your source of hope? Of confidence? Is it rooted in fact or fiction? I chose to believe God oversees this planet, and one day He will make known the mysteries of His will. When He does, we will bow in humble acknowledgement that He does indeed do all things well.

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