9/16/2020 – Pastor Brian’s Blog –
It was a week ago last night. The leadership meeting at church had just finished. I was walking out the front door with our new assistant pastor and the head of our deacon board. We had all parked our vehicles behind the church, so the other two men waited for me to lock the front door and we made our way around the corner of the church towards the back.
At this point I probably should tell you that it was extremely dark that evening. I should also mention that there is no lighting on this particular side of the church. With one of the men on each side of me, we started walking towards the back of church to leave. I probably should also mention that we have our well on this side of the church, and so that no one will trip on the well cap, we have placed two large boulders, one in the front and one in the back of the well.
As we are walking and talking, all of a sudden I went down. Remember those large boulders in front of the well cap? Well, they did their job: I did not hit the well! Now as I look back, I wonder if our assistant pastor and head deacon might have been directing me towards that rock, but that is a blog for another time. Anyway… I go down and when I land, my head is under my chest. I had really thought that I had broken my neck.
So I quickly jumped up, the guys asked if I was OK, I assured them that I was, and I got into my van and drove 6 miles to my house. I also should probably mention that Judy just had her knee replaced 2 weeks earlier. So I walk into the house and said to Judy, “I think I hurt myself.” I came to that conclusion because I could not move my neck, and I could tell my blood thinner was working great because blood was pouring from the 7 different gashes in my leg.
Maybe you can imagine the scene: I am limping into the house, with my leg bleeding profusely, I can’t move my neck, and my wife who recently had a knee replaced comes around the corner with her cane, limping towards me. Please do not tell my kids this story, because they will not let us live alone anymore!!
To make a long story short: Judy helped bandage my leg and eventually it stopped bleeding; the next day I went to see the doctor who immediately sent me to the hospital for a CT scan on my head, shoulders and neck. They said they found nothing in my head scan, (by nothing they meant no brain bleed… I think!) and my shoulders and neck showed no broken bones, only some stretched muscles.
I say all that to say this: nothing, not even tripping over a boulder at 66 years old, is random. You and I are in the hands of the living and true God. Our God is sovereign, meaning that nothing happens outside of His sovereign rule. Because God is in control, He can and does work out all things for our good…
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
And not only that, all things work out according to His will…
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
Ephesians 1:11
What does this mean for you and me? It should mean that these truths should remove the angst out of our life, no matter what is happening. Our lives are in the hands of a God that loved us enough to die for us, so why would we ever believe that His will would be anything but impeccably good for us.
Not sure of this truth? Then check this out…
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Before you were the twinkle in your father’s eye, God had His mind on you…
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:14-16
You may be going through something far worse than tripping over a boulder and pulling a few muscles. Yet it doesn’t matter when it comes to the promises of God. Whatever you are going through, God will use it for your good. God will work out your life according to His will.
God planned out every day of your life before you even lived one of them, and that plan is for your good. Even as excited as your mom may have been when she found out she was pregnant with you; God has been excited about you even longer than that. He was thinking about you even before the creation of the world.
So, my friend, live in the sovereignty of God. Know that God’s will for your life will be accomplished and it will be for your good. Do God’s will, because when you do, you can watch as the angst in your life dissipates!
He is the God of all our days…
