I get a lot of letters from people, and some of them are pretty pointed. Like this one from Jeff. You know how I often talk about God being in control of things? Well, that really got Jeff rattled. He wrote, “Joni, to even say that God allows bad things to happen goes against his loving nature. God is good and he has absolutely nothing to do with the tragedies and awful things that happened in this world!”
I put his letter down and thought back to the early days of my paralysis when I believed the same way as Jeff. But thinking that God had no control over evil things happening made me feel less trustful of God, not more. I felt God was held hostage by bad things… all the awful things happening in my life! Surely the Bible has more to say about this. That’s when I stumbled upon Deuteronomy 33:27-29. There, I found a sturdy, wonderfully awesome view of God. It says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you... Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.” Oh boy! Hallelujah! God definitely has something to do with the awful things that happen in this world!
I wish Jeff were listening right now – and maybe he is! Because I would want to assure him that God is constantly protecting us from the full force of the curse on the Garden of Eden and all the evil and suffering that goes with it. God is relentlessly shielding us. Time and again, he drives the devil away and rescues us from his wicked schemes. This sin-stained planet would have ripped apart at the seams long ago were it not for the restraining hand of God. That’s what it means when it says that he is our shield. What else would God shield you from but the awful plans of our enemy, right?!
And if we need even more proof of that, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 says, “And now you know what is holding [the evil one] back… For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” Hey, friend, the Spirit of the Living God is the One who is “holding back” Satan and the suffering he instigates. Moment-by-moment God is engaged with suffering, restraining it, stopping it, curbing it, curtailing it, deflecting it, and only allowing those harmful things to reach us which ultimately fit into his plan for your life!
So Jeff, if you are within range of my voice today, I think you and I can bless God together for shielding, protecting, and preserving us this day.
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JONI AND FRIENDS
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