God's Sovereignty Always Trumps Circumstances

I'm nearing the end of the book of Job as part of a chronological reading plan a group of men in our church began at the start of 2013.  Without "beating around the bush" let's say it as it is.  Job is one of those books where halfway through you are tempted to walk away and shout, "enough already!"  From Job's "friend's" ridiculing comments to the "in your face" reminder of the brevity of life, it's tempting to skip a few paragraphs...or chapters.  Don't!  We need the repetitive reminders, regardless of how painful it is to read.

We need to read about how Job's worst fears became a reality for him (Job 3:25).  We need to acknowledge the reality that life is hard and the routines of life often seem futile (Job 7:1-3).  We need to revel in Job's wonderful sarcasm in Job 12:2 (one of my favorite verses in the whole book) and cheer his outright rebuke of his friends in Job 16:2.  We need to shout "amen" as we read the age-old question asking why the wicked seem to prosper (Job 21:7).  More than anything we need to marvel at the little nuggets of truth sprinkled throughout the book regarding the incredible sovereignty of God. 

Over and over again we read about God's amazing knowledge (21:22), His power (Job 9:8) and His omni-presence (Job 36).  Each of these nuggets of truth are sandwiched between two earth-shattering statements; one in the first chapter and one in the last chapter.

After Job literally lost everything in his life he responded by saying, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!" (Job 1:21)  All I can say is, "wow!"  The book could have ended right there but it doesn't.  41 chapters later we read Job's pronouncement of God in Job 42:2: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted."

What's the lesson of Job's ridiculously harsh suffering?  God's sovereignty always trumps our circumstances.  It doesn't matter if we are "on cloud 9" or in the deepest darkest days of depression.  God still reigns! 

Near the middle of last year I was scheduled to preach on what God's Word says about pain and suffering (listen here).  In God's providence, four days before I was to preach that message I sat in the doctor's office with my wife as she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  As we stared at each other in disbelief the message of Job was still reverberating in my head: God's sovereignty always trumps our circumstances.  It was true for Job.  It has proved to be true for me and my family.  It is true for you.  No matter how deep the pain, how raw the wound...God is in control.  His purposes cannot and will not be thwarted!

Here's my wife, describing her journey at our 2012 Fall Women's Retreat: