“all” means ALL!
“The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,
(The Psalms 24: 1 NASB)
The world, and those who dwell in it.”
THE QUESTION: Why would GOD allow bad things to happen to His obedient children?
Have you ever found yourself asking this question? We did approach this question during our small group meeting (Sunday School) last Sunday. The group was comprised of 50+ year-olds, people who had been alive for many days, and people who had attended Sunday School for several years. Nevertheless, these same people had endured tragedies of life: death of a loved one, loss of employment, health issues, divorce, temptations of life, struggles to endure, & the LORD’S testing.
THE QUESTION: Why would GOD allow bad things to happen to His obedient children?
THE ANSWER: GOD displays HIS Sovereignty over circumstances that have impossible situations because HE wants us (His OBEDIENT children) to—
Trust HIM, to Take HIM at HIS word & to Depend fully on HIM!
Something strange plagues each person alive; we struggle to understand the tiny word: all.
- All of the earth—Is the LORD’S!
- All of everything the earth contains—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the world—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the people—Is the LORD’S!
“For He has founded it upon the seas
(The Psalms 24: 2 NASB)
And established it upon the rivers.”
So, why do we (children of God) struggle to obey God?
—when—
- All of the atmospheres—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the universe—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the heaven & hell—Is the LORD’S!
“Who
(The Psalms 24: 3-4 NASB)
may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who
may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who
has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And [who]
has not sworn deceitfully.”
So, why do we (God’s redeemed) struggle to trust God?
—when—
- All of the chaos & turmoil we face—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the love & peace we feel—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the pain & health problems we face—Is the LORD’S!
- All of the healing & goodness—Is the LORD’S!
“all” means ALL!
“all” we will ever experience or know or walk through or avoid—Is the LORD’S!
Yes, why do we struggle to stand faithfully seeking to lean on God?
—when God promises within His Holy Word—
“He shall receive a blessing from the LORD
(The Psalms 24: 5-6 NASB)
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—
even Jacob. Selah.”
Believers should not struggle to follow His instruction & to trust in His strength.
&
Because GOD does allow bad things to happen to His obedient children?
SEEK THE LORD—
“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 4: 5-7 NASB)
The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Prayer helps us see God at work in our lives.
- Prayer allows us to abide in Him completely.
- Prayer provides us a way to rest in Him.
Pause to listen to the melody “Flowers” by Samantha Ebert.
Because “all” means ALL,
Prayer gives us a way to hand our worries—NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE FACING—
To the LORD!