God is your father, who has your end in His hand, and your days under His absolute control (Psalm 139:1-6).

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Psalm 139:1-6

Have you observed that despite the travails of Job, who was the subject of various attempts of ignorant men seeking to answer the “why” question, that God did not, repeat did not, give an answer to the “why” to Job. He merely pointed Job to His power and sovereignty over all His creation (Job 38-41) to which Job repented in ashes (Job 42:1-6)?

Have you observed the sufferings for the cause of the gospel by our forerunners (Hebrews 11:35-40), who held on to their faith to the point of death even though God had not explained what He was doing?

David cried out, understanding God’s absolute power and sovereignty when he wrote, “I do not exercise myself in things too big for me” (Psalm 131:1); and having learnt from the experience of God’s “no obligation” to explain, he wrote Psalm 22:1-2, a prophecy of Christ’ situation on the Cross, to which Heaven was silent (Matthew 27:46,50).

Paul summarised the matter in Romans 11:33-36, a quote from Isaiah 40:10-14 that provides completeness in what our response ought to be in the face of inexplicable sufferings and hardship.

A reminder to TRUST HIM enough to resort to HIS HIGH PRAISE particularly when we are standing firm without blemish in His purpose. This is walking in WISDOM in the day of trouble (Psalm 2). To further elaborate on this, over the next two posts we will share 2 stories from Dr. James Dobson of Focus On The Family Ministry.

Shalom




Pastor Afolabi Oladele