Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)
The first portion below is from an Instagram post I did today.
Was doing some studying last night. I was reading a book by #KennethEHagin. As sometimes happens with me, I got #distracted. I opened up Instagram and began scrolling. I wasn’t really paying attention to what I was scrolling through, but I found myself thinking about some other posts that I had seen in the last week or so. I am an observer by nature, so I try to understand why people do and say what they do. I saw posts & comments where Christians pointed the finger at other Christians without any regard. I saw pain, anger, bitterness, and even pride. I understood it, but it grieves me.
Yet, I am also reminded of something else that God is having me study right now: sovereignty. Why do people do and say the things they do, whether in person or in social media? There’s always a story behind it. There is always a story behind why people are angry, frustrated, hurt or in pain. God is reminding me to not judge what’s being said , but learn to understand what’s behind it. At the same time, I fully recognize God is sovereign.
He does not have to answer to anyone as to why things are the way that they are. God does not accept things, rather, God allows things to happen because God has given us a free will. What we see all around us is more about our choices. Others’ choices can affect us, true, but how do we handle it? I am not saying disregard the pain, anger or disappointment. No. That is when God wants us to know more than ever that He is there for us.
He is all about relationship with us. It is fully dependent on us to move toward Him through our actions and words, especially our sound. It is up to is to connect with and be open to Him….even in the midst of pain…even in the midst of unanswered prayers. That is a hard thing to reconcile. We stand in faith, pray, and believe, because that is what He teaches us to do. We hold on when common sense says not to. It is vital that even while standing and believing, we submit to his sovereignty. He will do what He will do.
The question then becomes, where is our focus? Do we keep focusing on the problem, pain, situation, or unanswered prayer? Or, do we focus on God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Creator of humanity, the one who gave His life for us so that he could have relationship with us & we could spend eternity with Him forever?
Let me tell you, more often than not it is easier to focus on the problem or the pain than it is to focus on God. We have to choose. Colossians 3:2 says “Set your mind on things above not on the things of this earth.” That is a choice to focus on His sovereignty. Let God take care of it while He heals, comforts, loves, encourages, and strengthens you.
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As I thought about this more after posting, I wanted to find an example of this understanding. Immediately, I thought of Joni Eareckson Tada. You can read more about her here, but in it, she says this:
So, for the last 50 years in my wheelchair, I’ve been daily dying to self and rising with Jesus, dying to self and rising with Jesus, dying to self and rising with Jesus. My goal is to mortify my fleshly desires, so I might find myself in Christ. God has been answering my prayer, exposing dark things in my heart, things from which I need to be healed.
Joni Eareckson Tada, 2019 – The Gospel Coalition
In another article, she speaks of a time during the 1970’s when a friend said this:
“God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” Steve explained it this way, “Joni, God allows all sorts of things he doesn’t approve of. God hated the torture, injustice, and treason that led to the crucifixion. Yet he permitted it so that the world’s worst murder could become the world’s only salvation.”
Joni Eareckson Tada, 2017 – The Gospel Coalition
Maybe you’re not dealing with a physical paralysis like Eareckson Tada. Yours may be more along the lines of someone else hurting you. Or you’re dealing with your own physical challenges that aren’t going away. Or the trauma of abuse has crippled you in some (or all) areas of your life.
Whatever the case may be, while we pray – when we are seeking God, are we focusing on the pain? Are we focusing on the weakness? Are we focusing on the event itself? Are we nursing the hurt? Are we speaking death words over ourselves because of the unfairness of it all?
That is exactly what the enemy of our souls wants us to do. Satan wants us crumbling in our faith. He wants us to blame God at every turn. He wants us to turn away from belief in Jesus Christ as anything other than who He is – the Son of God, Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer, Restorer, Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, King of kings, Lord of lords, Ancient of Days, Hope, Provider, etc.
God didn’t give Eareckson Tada paralysis. But, He allowed it. The suffering in our lives – whether through our own choices or others inflicted upon us – is not God’s perfect plan.
But, He allows it.
Why? Because He is God and He will do what He will do. He is sovereign. He is God. I don’t have to like it. In fact, I hate it when I have to suffer. I hate to see others suffer. We live in a broken and fallen world, and things happen when there is brokenness and sin. There is no escaping that.
But He Is God!
Does that make going through it any easier? No, not really. At least, it didn’t in my younger days. I would stand and believe, pray without doubting, and the suffering would continue. It made me doubt God and who He is, and even, His love for me.
Slowly, I am coming to a place where I am accepting His sovereignty. I am fully behind what Eareckson Tada’s friend Steve said, “God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” As I let Him be who He is in my life – a sovereign God – He is accomplishing what He loves, me getting to know Him more.
The choice is up to me. I can choose whether to dwell in the issue or dwell in His peace. Because let me tell you, my friend, there is a peace in yielding to His sovereignty, particularly when all looks dark. It is a place of trust that cannot be manufactured or crafted by any human. People will not understand it. People will question your sanity. But, oh my, the peace in the midst of suffering…
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (YLT)
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Sunny Cadwallader 
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