“Living in the Presence of God in Adversity” April 3
Probably few of us could have foreseen the damage an invisible virus would do to our economy, sense of security, and national attitudes before 2019. Add to that concerns about terrorism, crime, social and moral changes in our nation and the world, growing hostility toward people of faith, and the normal effects of living in a fallen world, like sickness and disease, and there is much that could tempt us to worry.
Yet, none of this is a surprise to God. And if we understand His sovereignty, we must admit that He knows, allows, and sometimes ordains the circumstances of our lives. All that happens, including our responses, happens in the presence of God, coram Deo, literally before His face.
As we contemplate that fact, we should also remember that what God allows and ordains in our lives serves His purposes. He has general purposes for us all, but He also has specific plans and purposes for each of us. Those purposes are always for our good and His glory. And those two are never opposed to one another. They work in perfect harmony. So, how can understanding these things help us respond better in times of adversity?
