Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Ps. 115:3 (ESV)
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. Isa. 46:9-10 (NLT)
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, though things often seem out of control—in our world, families, and hearts, nothing could be farther from the truth. We may not always see your hand, discern your heart, or like your ways, but only you are God and only you are good.
In these three Scriptures, three of your children, in three different sets of difficult circumstances, all affirm the same glorious truth: You can be trusted, period. You were sovereign over King David’s challenged rule, crazy family, and personal failures. You were sovereign over Isaiah’s difficult ministry, fractured world, and Messiah-filled hope. You were sovereign over Job’s loses and betrayals, misery and waiting, health and faith struggles. Indeed, NO purpose of yours can be (or will be) thwarted.
Surely therefore, Father, we can trust you with however you choose to work in our stories, country, and world. You give and you take away, but, always to bring glory to yourself. You work in all things for our good—no exceptions, not one.
When you wound, ultimately it’s to heal. When you enrich, it’s to make us generous. When you delay, it’s not to frustrate us, but to prepare us for a bigger purpose you have planned. When you say, “No” to our “logical and awesome” requests, it’s because a better “Yes” is waiting in the wings.
Father, continue to renew our thinking, gentle our hearts and deepen our worship. Until the Day Jesus returns to wipe our tears and make all things new, free us to rest in your faithfulness and sovereignty. Make the gospel bigger and sweeter, that we might whine less and trust more. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ powerful and loving name.
