It’s at times like these where humans could really use some divine intervention. And when I say that, I mean it as a question. In this situation, God’s will is…is what? Is it sovereign?
Before this coronavirus crisis happened, I could only describe things as normal. Everything was “business-as-usual.” I had started to feel a rhythm at work, at church, at home, and in life in general.
The last weekend of February, I wrote this very detailed scheduled of how I wanted to spend my time. It was my way of taking control of my life, spending my energy on only essential things, and maximizing the use of my time. I’d already moved closer to the city so I could be closer to church and friends and activities and spend less time on my commute. Now, I don’t even have a commute–anywhere–because I’m going nowhere!
Can anyone relate? I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like the coronavirus tore my plans to utter pieces.
God is in Control
In one of my previous posts about the warfare that is the coronavirus crisis (See “Faith: An Anchor in Distress” Post), I mentioned that this pandemic could be God’s passive wrath. We’re seeing the result of a world that has turned from Him, and He has left ourselves to…well, ourselves.
As I was thinking about this warfare, I realized something that I think I had always known, but had never purposefully acknowledged.
The coronavirus did not surprise God.
Say it out loud. Read it again. Let it sink in, as I am.
The coronavirus did not surprise God. It did not catch him off guard. It was not unexpected for Him like it was (and still is) for us.
So if it didn’t surprise Him, then that also means that He’s not reacting to it, adjusting His plans, or tweaking details in His grand-scheme-of-things plan.
No, He knew from the beginning of time, for forever, that the coronavirus COVID-19 would hit the world like it has.
Naturally as I pondered this reality amongst my own “new reality,” I was first upset because I felt like I deserved a warning or a get-out-of-jail free card or an exemption, like what you receive for the final exam in a college course if you already have an A. Like, God, could you give a sister in Christ a warning? I made all of these grand plans and the coronavirus tore them up…
Or actually, God allowed the coronavirus to tear them up. Bye bye, Kara’s plans! ?
God’s Will is Still Standing
Yet, after I had finished mourning over my own plans, I found comfort and rest in the fact that–wait, if God knew that all of this was going to happen, then His plan and purpose for my life still stands.
My plan might have been torn to pieces, but His remains. And it will remain because God will not be caught by surprise. He knows our hearts because He created us. He knows our stories because He wrote them. He knows the events of the world because He holds the world in his hands. God’s will is sovereign over all.
God is Sovereign Verse
I’m reminded of this proverb:
“In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)“A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.” (NKJV)“We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.” (NLT)
I like how the NLT version says it best because it recognizes that yes, we have the ability to make our own plans, but ultimately, God’s will is sovereign.
Now that I think about it, we must think pretty highly of ourselves to think that we could mess up God’s plan. Even when God created us, He knew that we would turn away from Him and sin against Him. He knew every single awful, rebellious thing that we would do, and yet He still created us anyway. He knew that He would have to send His son Jesus Christ to the cross in order to redeem us, and yet He still chose us.
If sin couldn’t mess up God’s plan in the Garden of Eden, then the coronavirus won’t mess up His plan for our lives either. We just have to let bygones be bygones and relinquish our own plans.
The will of God
With Easter right around the corner, I’m struck with awe as I think of God’s immense love for us. I’m overwhelmed with disbelief as I think about a God who created us already knowing how we would rebel against Him and knowing that Jesus would have to sacrifice himself to redeem us to God.
God’s ways are truly higher than my ways. His thoughts are truly higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). But if He would give up His Son Jesus Christ for me, wouldn’t he also graciously give me all things? (Romans 8:32)
That is the God I serve. I serve a sovereign God.
So this is me, surrendering my plan. Coronavirus, you may have taken my plan, but you can’t touch God’s will or God’s sovereignty.
God’s will is sovereign.
Let’s rest in this. ? Let’s think about the sovereignty of God as we respond to the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re thinking about how you should respond, check out this post here.
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