"Don't worry, God is in control."
There have been seasons in my life where this phrase has been comforting, where I've been neutral about it, and when I've wanted to smack the person that said it on the back of the head. It's become a cliche' around Christian circles to many, but a great reminder for others.
I'm an analytical kind of guy - sometimes to a fault. Regardless, I look for evidence that God is actually in control before I allow this phrase to take on any meaning. Taking things on faith is all well and good, but I want proof of as much as I can to give credence to the things I must take on faith.
"God is in control" is a tough one to swallow on faith. Our country, founded by Christians, is in a steep downward spiral spiritually. Terrorism is threatening to work its way inside our borders. "Christians" around the country are doing and have been accused of horrible things. The evidence points to an evil that is getting the upper hand and carrying some serious momentum.
Take a look at Romans 8:28 - 30 (text below). This is where we get the idea of the effectual calling - it's the evidence that God calls us to Himself and we then respond in faith rather than our response to the external call moving God to save us. I'd encourage you to read more about that idea here, but for now, we're going to move ahead.
Because God calls us before we respond, and we know that God does not fail, the effectual call is irresistible. By God's grace, everyone He calls responds and cries out to Him in faith. Are there pretenders and wolves hiding in sheep's clothing? Absolutely. Difficult seasons or simply time exposes their true hearts. The beauty of the call is seeing a person's life genuinely transformed.
No matter how bad things get in this world, God has always been here. He interacted with us for a while as God the Father. He walked among us for a while as God the Son (Jesus). Now He lives in each of us that He has called through God the Spirit. He has infiltrated our sinful nature - an act that can't happen without changing us.
Every time a new conversion happens, it's proof that God is still working and He is still in control. If God can call one, He can call all. What makes us think for a moment that He doesn't have the power to turn the tide of this entire world with just a word?
Yes, it is true that we don't understand why God doesn't do just that. It can be frustrating. We know that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). That I'll have to hold on to in faith. The confidence comes in part from the testimony of each person that He has called. Your testimony is tangible proof that God is still in control.
In a world that seems to be growing in chaos more every day, we can hold on to the promises in Scripture. That means we need to be spending time with it for starters. We can also look for the tangible evidence around us of how God is at work. The stories and testimonies of Christians are a great one.
I know it can be hard to see God's work when you're not used to looking for it. Ask around those you know belong to Christ. Ask them how God personally changed their life and allow that evidence to spur your confidence as you seek to navigate this life - and remember that God is in control.
Romans 8:28-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
