Before, Now, and After

Letting Go of Control.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:2 New International Version

Who out there worries too much? Well, I am right there with you. It doesn’t take a whole lot to get my mind thinking about hypothetical outcomes to scenarios. Sometimes I become fixated on these outcomes, at which point my heart starts to race a little bit, because my mind has tricked itself into thinking that a possible outcome is a reality that is bound to happen.

It is not entirely surprising how quickly our attitudes can change from when things are going well to when we face an inconvenience, even a minor one. We may not lose any faith in God, but we may very well start questioning him, his motives, and his promises. We are all a little too much like the twelve apostles of Jesus. They walked with him, they saw his works, and his miracles. They heard his teaching, and saw how he responded and interacted with those who persecuted him. Yet, how many times did Jesus have to remind his apostles of who he was and what his mission was?

When things take an unexpected turn in our lives and we can’t make sense of them, we are similar to the apostles. God is constantly reminding us that he alone is God, and that he is the sovereign ruler of the universe. Before God created the earth, he was in control. When Adam and Eve brought death into the world through their sin in the garden, God was in control. He is in control right now, and will be for all eternity.

I love the interaction between God and Job, when Job is enduring unimaginable loss. When Job doubts God, Job is confronted and questioned by God, and I think Job got the picture.

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 English Standard Version.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

About Zach Roll

I am a first year student at Concordia Seminary. Hearing the Word preached in Law and Gospel and hearing that my sins are forgiven is the most comforting part of my week and my life.