There is so much to share this morning in Scripture, in the devotionals; and I want to start with an excerpt Dallas Willard included in Hearing God: {It may help to remember these words of Thomas a Kempis in The Imitation of Christ: Of what use is it to discourse learnedly on the Trinity, if you lack humility and therefore displease the Trinity? Lofty words do not make a man just or holy; but a good life makes him dear to God. I would far rather feel contrition than be able to define it. If you knew the whole Bible by heart, and all the teachings of the philosophers, how would this help you without the grace and love of God?} Dear to God! A wonderful place to be in His grace and love!

How does that figure into our own lives? In the same way the blessing of understanding helped the people in our chapter, 2 Chronicles 13. It was so refreshing to read the words of Abijah, king of Judah. Judah and Israel are about to battle and Abijah calls out Jeroboam, king of Israel, who led Israel into idolatry. Jeroboam even had the 2 golden calves they called god brought with his men into battle, v. 8. They didn’t help. God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed. v. 12. I couldn’t help but think that Israel was just like the nations that were driven out for their idolatry centuries before and just as ignorant of God. Are we?

Fast forward to the time when Jesus, Son of God, walked this earth with us. In The Chosen Book Three, on Day 30, they are recounting the time when Jesus and the Disciples were crossing the sea when strong winds were flooding water into their boat and they were terribly frightened. Jesus was sleeping. After being wakened in desperation, Jesus rebuked the storm with a single command. “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41. One of the questions asked was what is an object lesson God has allowed in your life in order to demonstrate His sovereignty? How about you? Can you answer that question? Have you ever thought about God – Father, Son, Spirit – as Sovereign?

For me, the answer was when I was faced with the ugliness of human behavior harming children that I had read about that caused me to be so angry with God. How can You allow this awful thing to be? In my heart I was yelling that question! I was driven in my distress to the only One who could help me. He did. He calmed the storm within me. He reminded me of Love. May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. As I trust in Him I know His Sovereignty and it is beautiful.

How do we pull all of this together? God is here. He knows the pain and suffering and guess what? He suffered with pain with us while He walked this earth and he suffers pain with us today. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Isaiah 53:3. How does that help us today? The Love of God overcame everything. And now? Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7. He cares deeply.

Bring your sorrows to Him. Bring your fears to Him. Bring your joys to Him. “In a little while” is His perfect timing. Remember Jesus’s own words right before He died on the Cross. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46. When all is said and done in this age of man, it is into the Fathers hands that we will know Love and Peace that surpasses understanding. He can help us today begin that journey with Him that calms every storm this world gives. Thank You, Sovereign Lord, for You!