“Righteous [are] You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about [Your] judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? [Why] are those happy who deal so treacherously?”
Jeremiah 12:1 NKJV
As many are attempting to process the results of the mid-term elections which occurred this past week, the question posed in this passage from Jeremiah has certainly never been more appropriate. Many are rightfully concerned with what will unfold in the coming months when the power in government takes a sharp left turn and a radical agenda is unleashed. While all too often we look at the powers that be and immediately wonder how it will affect our plans for the future, in fact, what we should be thinking is that God is the One with the ultimate power and we have His promises to us concerning our future being in His hands and the assurance of His judgment to come.
The question from Jeremiah, and the emotion that produces it, are most often the result of something called frustration. Now frustration is generally a combination of two other feelings we all can relate to, and those are anger and discouragement. Those two emotions were certainly evident in many commentaries about our political future this past week. Now speaking for myself, anger and discouragement usually follows when plans don't work out the way I want or expect them to. One thing I have noticed as well is that it really doesn't matter if they are life changing plans or just every day living and working around the house plans, if I want something and it doesn't work out I get frustrated.
The key to all of this though, at least in my opinion, is contained in one little letter and that is the letter “I”. It has taken me quite a while to come to the understanding in my own life that these emotions are really a result of my failure to understand that “I” don't have nearly as much control over life as I wish I had. So often we make plans expecting certain results without acknowledging that we probably don't have the power to control the outcome. Then when circumstances occur which foil our best laid plans we get frustrated, angry and discouraged.
When this happens in the believers life, quite often the result is the same question we find in Jeremiah. We look to God and ask why, as if it's God's fault we are frustrated because we certainly deserve whatever it was we wanted. Something I noticed though in all of this, is a point made when we ask this question of God in the first place. To my way of thinking, if we ask this question of God are we not then acknowledging that He is in control and has the power to affect the outcome? If so, then logically doesn't it follow that the result was according to His will? Rest assured, God has a plan for this world and the events we witness are all a part of it.
There are three points I believe we need to understand in order to deal with the frustration we often experience resulting from the realization that we don't control our own circumstances, and that it is God who does.
God knows us.
"I am the good shepherd; and I know My [sheep], and am known by My own.” John 10:14 NKJV
Now it's important to understand that this verse is not saying that God just knows who we are. It is much more than that. The word for know in the Greek is ginōskō; to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel, to become known, to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to understand, to know. You see, what we are being told here is that God knows us better than we know ourselves. That being the case, it follows that God knows what is best for us as well. As parents, how often do we say no to something our children really want because we know that it isn't the best thing for them. As they grow older, those circumstances might change, but we make those decisions based on our knowledge. God knows us, and if we acknowledge that He is in control, shouldn't we accept whatever comes without frustration, anger and discouragement?
God has a plan for us.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
The word for know used here in the Hebrew has the same meaning as the one in John. So not only are we being told that God knows us, we are being told that He has a plan for our life that predated our birth! In His perfect knowledge, God has laid out the course of this world, and made a special place for you and me. Before He even created this world, He had a plan and knew exactly what part we were going to play in it. When we try to control our own lives, or argue with God when things don't go as we planned, in reality we are telling God He doesn't know what He is doing. In effect, we are telling God we need something to make us happy, and He is telling us that in order to be happy we need to go along with His plan.
God will take care of us.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:19 NKJV
It took me quite a while to understand that the secret to happiness was not getting what I wanted, but rather enjoying what God has given me. I always seem to find myself falling into the trap of deciding I need something and making plans to get it rather that just sharing with God what I think I would like and waiting to see if He gives it to me. If God has promised to take care of us, why do we constantly try to do it ourselves? I can't help but think of Eve in the Garden of Eden deciding she really needed what God told her she didn't need, and look at the result of that. If you think about it, how much sense does it make to disagree with a Holy God who knows the future?
Does this mean we are not supposed to have desires or make plans for our futures? Not at all, but what it does mean is that you give them to God with the acknowledgment that He is in control and if it is His will for them to work out, they will. On the other hand, if those plans do not work out you understand that in His perfect knowledge, God has other plans for you. Also, let's not forget those who might appear to have what we want because they are willing to do anything to get it. The wicked prosper because Satan wants it to appear that his way is better than God's. God calls them “wicked”, and while at first it appears they are happy because they have what they want, in the end we find they have nothing at all because God promises the wicked get what they deserve.
“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--[it] only [causes] harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked [shall be] no [more]; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it [shall be] no [more]. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalms 37:4-11 NKJV
How often do we as believers attempt to tell God what He should do? I have to constantly ask myself how ridiculous it is to try and argue with the God of the universe who knows the future! I may have a plan, but it is God alone who already knows if it will result in my happiness or sorrow. So we must choose to let Him lead. As it relates to the politics of this country, as well as the rest of the world, God is in control no matter how confusing things may seem at the moment. Everything is playing out exactly as God has foreseen and these things must occur before the final chapter of God’s plan is executed.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if [there is any] wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
I believe the bottom line is simply that, as believers, we have the assurance of, and must put our trust in, the fact that God is in control of everything and we need not fear or be frustrated when the plans we have do not work out as desired. Watching the world seemingly begin to fall apart is a wonderful sign for believers as it tells us the time of our deliverance is fast approaching. Make no mistake, no matter how frightening the future may appear, God is on His throne and as believers, our future is in His hands and His alone and our trust should be in Him.
That said, the most important decision anyone can make is to accept the free gift of salvation offered to us by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ by His death on the cross for our sins. If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today. All that you need to do is ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;
Dear Father in heaven, I believe in your son Jesus. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose up from the grave, and that my sins are forgiven. Forgive me of my sin, help me to walk with you, and thank you for saving me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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