Today I wanted to repost this post. After my last post, I went back and read this one. It was a fond memory and I needed to personally hear the message again. And when I also learned that Wanda, who commented on my last post, saved in her journal my statement “Don’t look at what is happening, look at what I am doing,” I thought it might need to come back around. I pray you enjoy it.
In the face of my sister’s bout with cancer, God answered my prayers with this statement, “Don’t look at what is happening, look at what I’m doing!” Oh, I can’t tell you how liberating this is. Mankind tends to focus on what’s happening, and I am guilty of the same, but there’s something higher than what’s happening—God’s purposes.
But Look At What’s Happening!
I was tested on this just last week. Here is the scenario. I was traveling with Martha on standby tickets. This means if there’s a seat you fly, and if not, you sit and wait for the next opportunity. It can be a bit nerve-wracking. Suffice it to say, by the end, passengers waiting for seats are congratulating those cleared to fly. “Oh, so glad you made it.” After a while, the group of standby passengers develops a comradeship. Like waiting for a life raft off the Titanic (hahaha). Literally, if there’s no seat, then you don’t fly and most airlines overbook so…good luck!
On this trip, God tested me. He was kind enough to not leave me hanging, but He said “You’re not going to make this flight.” Though my why response was not stated, it was implied. “Why God?” He answered me, “To test your anxiety levels. Will you trust Me?”
I sat there, hoping for better but knowing the answer. We didn’t get on. The next flight rolled around and He said, “You’ll get on this one.” But you know how you can second-guess yourself and say, “Was that Him or me with my desire?” Well, we did actually make that flight. Duh, God told me!
As I was sitting in seat 24b with Martha to my left, He reminded me…”Don’t look at what is happening, look at what I’m doing!”
But What About What’s Happening?
Circumstances can seem so momentous when they push against God’s purposes. We are so vulnerable to our Creator. Nothing happens outside His control. Look at this passage from Isaiah 45:
“So all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.”
Isaiah 45:6-7 NLT
The whole chapter is indicting. God is over all! That includes everything from planes to cancer, despots to peoples. Nothing happens beyond His control. Wow! This is both comforting and terrifying. My God is in control – period, end of story.
So when I am tempted to fret or fear, I’m called to entreat my Abba, my Creator, as the One who’s in control. He promised to not leave me or forsake me. I am shepherded by my Shepherd regardless of what is happening.
“Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you.”
Isaiah 46:4 AMP
My life verse for right now, and He IS carrying me. Praise His Name.❤️❤️❤️????
I love it! He is carrying us all, isn’t He. Praise God!
Especially important to know in light of the coming elections with anxiety at a fever pitch
The only way to fly, huh?! This post and reality is needed now more than ever. Thank you Doug!
This is His answer to my prayer today! Thank you for posting it again. It strikes my heart that this is an eternal answer not just one for today.
So glad, I needed it very much as well. Amazing what happens when we let the Spirit write something—it becomes ever-fresh. ??? Love you Vicki!
Awesome.Awesome. Awesome God. His Name is Wonderful!
Love, grace and love.
Yes, God is so in control, don’t know why we fret. Hi John, I was one of the new faces that showed up by God’s calling to the Lamb conference last month. Amazing ! After reading this, I wanted to share an airplane experience with you I had a couple years ago. My daughter lives in Tucson Az. and had to be airlifted to hospital after being thrown off a horse, so I had to get there to help with her 3 kids. My husband and I were flying standby from Atlanta going through Denver. Flight was full in Atlanta… Read more »
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP
It’s refreshing to know our Heavenly Father is in control, if not we would all be spinning out of control. Thanks for the timely word.
AMEN JOHN,
We see from where we stand, in Christ or as man.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Yes this is so true and comforting. The Spirit of the Lord taught me this very principle through a time of great grief and loss and instead of being in despair my eyes were able to see the amazing restoration that was taking place in the midst of what was happening. This is the key to living from the Kingdom of God for me instead of living in fear of what it looks like. When I doubt the truth of His Sovereign control if I remember how Jesus lived on earth and in relationship with His Father, abiding in His… Read more »
“Nothing happens beyond HIS control” You spoke such truth….”Wow, This is both comforting and terrifying” and yet “we are shepherded by the one who is in control and we can stand on these promises. Bless you and thank you for bringing HIS truths to the light and reminding me as Gerardo says, WHO IS IN CONTROL.
Awesome John needed to hear this ! Good to be reminded that He is in control. It’s assuring to know this because college is gonna be expensive and I am currently short haha by a lot , but He has called me to it so I know He will provide!