CIRCUMSTANCES
IS GOD IN CONTROL OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES?
Psalm 135:6 . . . The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths.
Isaiah 45:7 . . . I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.
James 4:13-15 . . . Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Genesis 50:19-21 . . . Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families.” And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.
Romans 8:28 . . . God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Not only is God in control of life circumstances, but he is able to bring good out of any circumstance.
HOW DOES GOD VIEW LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES? HOW SHOULD I VIEW LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES?
1 Samuel 17:26 . . . David talked to some others standing there to verify the report. “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and putting an end to his abuse of Israel?” he asked them. “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 . . . “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are just men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” These words greatly encouraged the people.
Psalm 34:1 . . . I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
Realizing who God is, we should view life circumstances with his perspective. We should try to understand his ways, his thoughts, his view of our situation. The more we walk in godliness, the more we see things the way God sees them. The more we avoid godliness, the more we see only our own ways.
Isaiah 45:9 . . . Destruction is certain for those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, “Stop, you are doing it wrong!” Does the pot exclaim, “How clumsy can you be!”
Romans 8:28 . . . God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
We should view life circumstances recognizing God’s design, control and authority. Did you create the universe? Who did? Did you create your own life? Who did? Can you fully comprehend yourself and your own circumstances? Who can?
Hebrews 11:11-12 . . . It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children-a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
We should view God working in life circumstances through eyes and hearts of faith. The “glasses” we wear colors the view.
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES?
Habakkuk 3:17-19 . . . Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
Our response should be to focus more on the joy and peace and future that comes from a relationship with God and less on our daily circumstances. We can always respond joyfully to the God of our salvation who gives us strength. The more we wallow in unpleasant circumstances, the more they may drag us under. The more we reach out to God, the more he can lift us up.
Matthew 5:45 . . . In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 . . . Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 . . . No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:20 . . . Always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are to accept life circumstances with thanksgiving to God, as well as trust in God for his constant presence and comfort. Whether we are currently living in sunshine or rain in life circumstances, God never changes and his love for us never changes. And God is always eager to teach us something from both the good and the bad.
Philippians 4:6 . . . Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
One of the hardest lessons of life is to turn worry into confident prayer when bad circumstances come our way. We are to come to God with our needs in thanksgiving for what he has done for us, and trusting that he will bring good out of the difficult.
Jeremiah 42:6 . . . Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we send you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.
We are to respond in obedience to God in every circumstance, since he knows the larger picture, and the future.
Romans 8:37-39 . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are to respond with confidence in God’s love for us. When times are tough, we may blame God and think he doesn’t love us. But that is when we need his love the most.
Philippians 4:11-13 . . . Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
We are to respond with confidence in God’s strength.
HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES?
Jeremiah 17:7-8 . . . Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
WE ARE TO TRUST IN THE LORD; HE IS WORTHY OF OUR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE. THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD UNDERSTAND THE SECRET OF HIS LIFE-SUSTAINING POWER.
Esther 4:13-14 . . . Mordecai sent back this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?”
GOD CAN USE US WHERE WE ARE FOR HIS PURPOSE. START WITH WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU HAVE, NOT WITH WHO YOU WISH YOU WERE AND WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE.
James 1:2-3 . . . Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
WE CAN EXPERIENCE JOY AND GROWTH IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. THINGS CONTINUE TO GROW EVEN ON CLOUDY DAYS. LIFE CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH UNDER CLOUDY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Acts 16:22-34 . . . A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Don’t do it! We are all here!” Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household.” Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
We can glorify God even in the most difficult of circumstances. When we do, two wonderful things happen: we learn to rely on God and not ourselves, and others may be blessed by seeing our faith and hope in action.
HOW DOES GOD USE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES FOR GOOD?
Romans 5:3-5 . . . We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
1 Peter 1:5-7 . . . God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
God uses our circumstances for our own personal growth-for our good. We don’t always know why God sometimes allows bad circumstances to come our way, but we do know that God always wants to bring good out of the bad.
2 Corinthians 6:3-7 . . . We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.
Philippians 1:12-14 . . . I want you to know, dear friends, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.
God uses our circumstances for his kingdom’s growth-for the good of others. Anyone can be joyful and faithful when life is going well, but when life gets tough believers have a unique opportunity to .show how a relationship with God brings comfort, confidence, and hope.
HOW CAN I SENSITIZE MYSELF TO SEE GOD IN LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES?
Nehemiah 6:16 . . . When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
John 11:21-22, 32 . . . Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” . . . When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Psalm 16:8 . . . I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
If God went to such great trouble to create us and a world for us to live in, die for our sins, and prepare an eternal home for us in heaven, why would he abandon us in our day to day circumstances? Watch closely for God’s presence and his power in yesterday, during today and for tomorrow. Pray for his intervention in your life, and then watch for those answers to prayer.
PROMISES FROM GOD:
Psalm 112:4, 6-8 . . . When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. . . . Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
1 Corinthians 13:7 . . . Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Psalm 118:24 . . . This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.