The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. Psalm 103:19

To say God is in control of every circumstance in our life is not politically correct. Many consider this Calvinism, others heresy, while others ask; 'what about the baby born blind or physically impaired? What about 9/11? What about the premature death of a spouse, a son or a daughter or the devastation of earthquake, tornado or tsunami? If God is loving, Why...?'

Question after question with seemingly no answers.

His Word fills us with hope if we will but realize we are not victims of random circumstance, that God is good and not evil and; '.. know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.' Romans 8:28

And what is His purpose? That we might be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

Suffering is beyond our comprehension to understand. Yet it is evident in our lives that it is only through adversity that many will cry out to God, and none would be conformed to the Image of His Son without it.

"Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered."  Hebrews 5:8

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

God uses short term suffering to accomplish long term good.

"That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these." Isaiah 45:6-7

The Lord spoke to Moses in Exodus 4:  "Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"

Some ask 'why serve God if good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.' But this question is not new.

Malachi records:

"It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape. Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. They will be mine, says the LORD Almighty, in the day when I make up my treasured possession I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

The final chapter of our lives has not yet been written. There are many more battles to fight, tears to shed, sorrows to endure - all opportunities to grow and be conformed to the image of our Sovereign Saviour and LORD.

Remember:   "The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand."  Isaiah 14:24