Prayer To Find Peace In The Fact That God Is Still In Control

God Is In Control

Here we are the last day of the month.  I was considering what to have us center our thoughts as we pray today.  It’s Hallowe’en.   Here in British Columbia the clocks go back an hour tonight – we thought we were done with these time changes but the pandemic has had its effect on the planned legislation about this as it has on so many things.  Around the globe, particularly in Europe governments have shut down many more areas of the economy in an effort to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

It got me thinking about control and my mind went to a wonderful chapter in the Bible – Isaiah 40.  Many of us are familiar with the verses at the end of that chapter that say:

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

We could spend out time just praying into that couldn’t we?  But once again it’s the verses coming before these words that comforted me and brought a smile.  We don’t have time to read them all here so I really encourage you to get a Bible and read that chapter or get out your phone and go to biblegateway.com to read it.  Why?

It’s all about how little we know but how the God who created the heavens and the earth has not lost control of His creation.  We can’t second guess God.  He’s got all the information and better still, all the love and care and power to bring about good.  He’s been doing it all down through time and will continue to do so long after we and our governments are gone.  Listen to these words:

Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?

Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales.  Isaiah 40:12-15

And so we give thanks to You, powerful God, that You are still in charge.  You are with us in power.  You are working all things today according to Your loving purposes.  We may not see how all of the seemingly out-of-control events around us could possibly bring good but You see so much more than we do.  Our little lives are just like a drop in the bucket, the dust on the scales.  You are full of wisdom and power and You are bringing that to bear on what’s going on in our lives today.

The Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.  Isaiah 40:10-11

You promise us loving care and we want to lean into that today.  As a little lamb would lean into the shepherd carrying it so we want to find rest in You today – not because we have answers but simply because You are with us and we are in Your care.  You will feed us.  You will lead us.  You will hold us close. 

Today we want to take these words of truth and make them our own:

Lord, You are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You will not grow tired or weary, and your understanding no one can fathom. You gives strength to us when we are weary and increase the power to us when we are weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but as we hope in You, Lord , You will renew our strength. We will soar on wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31 (pronouns adjusted)

Amen

Well, there are so many other lovely verses in that chapter that show us just how powerful God is and how little we know.  That’s what’s true and there’s peace in admitting the truth and then responding to that.  Do we feel vulnerable and weary of all this pandemic stuff?  Of course.  But, we find rest when we remember that we are in God’s care.  God is great and God is in control.  Go read Isaiah 40 and let God’s greatness calm Your heart and mind today.