Two things we must be convinced of in the face of life’s unexpected inconveniences: 1) God is good and wise, 2) EVERYTHING that comes to pass God ordains and He does so for His glory. I was reminded of this recently.
On Wednesday this week I was working in my study, and I had Mia, our sixteen-month-old yellow lab, with me. At one point during the morning I looked down from where I was working at my desk to see the power cable for my laptop chewed off and lying on the floor. Unbeknown to me, Mia had been busy.
“Oh no,” I said, as I shot up out of my chair, “What have you done!” By the sound of my voice Mia knew immediately that she was in trouble. In a few short seconds, at the hands (or should I say, teeth) of a loveable, but, at times, very frustrating dog, my life had suddenly become unexpectedly inconvenienced. My well-laid plans for the day derailed, because, now I would have to take the time to go to Best Buy and get a new power cord.
In the midst of the caflufal that followed my discovery I chuckled as thought came to me—God is good and wise, and God is sovereign. This has happened by design. Even this unexpected, potentially frustrating, seemingly trivial inconvenience, God has purposed, ultimately for His glory, if I respond in a Spirit-empowered, Christ-like way patience and gentleness. This reality changes everything about the significance of this “mishap”, and about my response. This “mishap” is important because it is about the glory of God in and through me. My response is important because it is about the glory of God in and through me.
Now, of course, this significance hinges on whether or not it is true that God is good and wise, and that He providentially ordains everything that comes to pass; whether this is by the design of a wise and good God, or not. What does the Bible say?
The Bible says that God is good and wise—
“Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1
“You are good, and do good”—Psalm 119:68
“To the only wise God be glory forever”—Romans 16:27
The Bible says that God providentially ordains everything that comes to pass.
“In Him we have obtained and inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will.” –Ephesians 1:11
The Bible says that God does all things for the glory of His name.
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”—Romans 11:36
All things—including Mia chewing through my computer cord—is worked according to the counsel of God’s will for His glory and for my good.
These realities are repeatedly affirmed throughout Scripture as it relates to us the working of God in creation and redemption. Nothing is outside the scope of what God is purposefully doing in his wisdom and goodness for His glory.
Knowing that changes everything about the way I respond to the unexpected inconveniences that I encounter in life. They may be unexpected, but they are not unplanned or purposeless. Understanding these things, and, by His grace, responding to such experiences in a Christ-like way makes such infinitely and eternally significant.
Growing together with you,
Pastor Guy