The Sovereignty of God

God is in control of everything and "works all things according to the counsel of His will". As I sit here today, this brings me tremendous comfort. Unfortunately, that has not always been the case. In fact, this truth about God has caused me immense turmoil and confusion in my faith but ironically, it has also been the catalyst for deep intimacy with my Father God who knows my coming and going, who formed me in my mother's womb and knew every day before any of them came to be. (Psalm 139)

Very recently, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar causing destruction as far away as Bangkok. The death toll continues to rise and as of writing this is over 2,700 in a country already devastated by an ongoing war. Earlier in the week I spent some time in Pattaya- the city at the center of Thailand's rampant sex trade. According the Global Slavery Index "401,000 people experienced forced labour or forced marriage in Thailand in 2021" (https://cdn.walkfree.org/content/uploads/2023/09/27165730/GSI-Snapshot-Thailand.pdf). There is no escaping the reality of this statistic in Pattaya. 

In my attempts to reconcile suffering with my belief in a good and holy God I have at times focused my frustration on the depravity of man. While we live in a fallen world and we know that suffering is the result of our sin, if we only focus on man's responsibility we put on ourselves a burden to weighty and impossible for any human to bear. Pair that with the reality of destruction that seems to be far beyond human hands such as that which we witnessed last week. Thank the Lord the weight of the world is not upon our shoulders. 

So what can I do in the face of darkness? Should I get angry at mankind and myself for our sin? Should I turn away because it's too hard to look at and God is in control anyways? Should I argue with God and doubt His goodness based on what seems like inaction on His part? I've tried them all and they all leave me feeling empty and hopeless.

God is not indifferent or inactive when it comes to our suffering. He loves us and this world so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to pay the price for all the evil done to us and by us. We can take comfort in the truth that our good and loving creator has rescued us and nothing ever has or ever will get in the way of his plan to "to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:20)

Furthermore, He invites us to be active participants in His rescue plan so He fills us with His power through the Holy Spirit so that we are equipped to bring about the hope and healing that this world so desperately needs and only He can bring. The reason for my trip to Pattaya was to work with the Palm Center. Their mission is "To be a place of God's presence through counseling and wellness programs that empower individuals and communities to achieve healing and wholeness". Praise God for the redemptive work He is doing through His people in Pattaya and around the world. 

So when faced with darkness and full of questions I must remind myself what is true. The truth is that God is in control and He has a plan that is for our good. That you and I are a part of His plan to bring about that good. And, in order for that to occur, God is near to us, intimately involved in our lives, and active in this world. What greater source of comfort could there be? 

About the Author: Jamie is serving in Thailand with her husband and two children. She is passionate about working to create pathways that both prevent women from entering the sex trade and provide a way out so that they can discover the hope and healing that is found in Jesus. She earned her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary in 2016 and has been working as a professional counselor since then. 

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