God is Sovereign

I've been reading a lot about God's sovereignty. He's in control of everything even the mistakes and problems of other people that have an effect on my life.

Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges has been my book of choice as of late, anything by Mr Bridges will benefit your soul greatly, and this one is no exception. In the chapter "God's Sovereignty over People" Bridges takes on our responsibility and also the actions of other people in our lives, he states, "All of us at times find ourselves and our futures seemingly in the hands of other people. Their decisions or their actions determine whether we get a good grade or a poor one, whether we are promoted or fired, whether our careers blossom or fold. I am not overlooking our own responsibility in these situations, but all of us know that even when we have, so to speak, done our best, we are still dependent upon the favor or frown of that teacher or boss or commanding officer. We are, from a human point of view, often at the mercy of other people and their decisions or actions."

Decisions that people make in or out of our lives have an effect, whether for good or for evil. Sometimes we feel as if our lives are in someone else's hands, it's in times like these that we can take total rest in the fact that God is totally in control. Even though outwardly it would seem otherwise.

Mr Bridges goes on to say, referencing the story of Daniel and how God influences even the heathen rulers that were in power in Daniel's day; "When Daniel had resolved not to defile himself with food from the king's table-food spiritually contaminated by being offered first to idols, and perhaps even prepared from animals the Jews were not to eat-he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself that way. The Scripture then comments: "Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel." (Daniel 1:9)

If you find yourself struggling with the circumstances that you find yourself in and wonder if God has made a mistake or is on vacation. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Trusting God Even When Life Hurts and receive some medicine for your broken heart.