Ah, the cool fall mornings are finally here. I absolutely love fall. I love when the colors change on the mountains. My mom, who lives in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Colorado, sends me pictures every year to help me feel sane. Plus, in the desert it’s when I finally am able to venture out of the house and enjoy nature once again. Every year with the change of weather, God seems to change things around. Some times with so much change, I feel a bit like a rubber band – stretching as far as I can go feeling as if any moment I may snap. When I feel as if any moment I am going to snap with all of the change coupled with the fear of hurting loved ones because I’m being stretched, God graciously reminds me of His presence through all of this change. He shows me that He was and is and is to come. He is still the Almighty One.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come–the Almighty One.” Rev. 1:8, NLT
Life can feel out of control, but I think that when life gets this way Jesus wants to remind us that our lives really are only out of our control. Instead our lives are perfectly in His control and he promises to use all circumstances to His glory.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28, NLT
I believe this is why we are given these commands in 1 Thessalonians:
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes. 5:16-18, NLT
When we are joyful, we are not stewing with worry over what changes we may be walking through. When we are praying, we are acknowledging that God is the supreme ruler of all things. When we are thankful in all circumstances, we acknowledge that God is growing us and stretching us for something greater to be used for Him. I hope we will all be joyful, we will never stop praying, and we will all be thankful in every circumstance as change will inevitably be coming our way over and over again.
Bless you,
Amanda
Life is only out of our control, not God’s. I love that! Beautifully written.