As I write this article, many residents of Florida (of whom I am one) are reeling in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton, which both struck the west coast of the state only weeks apart. As I drove around after the storms, I was overwhelmed by the sights that I saw. Huge piles of what had been precious belongings, now reduced to mountains of trash by the curbside, waiting to be hauled away. The devastation of Helene stretched northward into the Carolinas and beyond, bringing further destruction and a death toll that climbed daily.
As I witnessed firsthand and watched on television the results of these hurricanes, I found myself thinking, “But, Lord, I wouldn’t have done it this way.” I immediately caught myself, however. Am I wiser than God? Scripture plainly declares that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isa. 55:8–9). His ways are not just a little higher than my ways, but infinitely higher. He is not just a bit wiser, but infinitely and eternally wiser. His decrees and designs and deeds will surely result in two things: glory will be brought to His great name (1 Peter 4:11), and good will be brought to His dear people (Rom. 8:28). There are times—many times, to be exact—when we cannot see how a storm, a sickness, or a tragedy can ever possibly bring about any good. In every instance, we must trust God and hold fast to His Word. In the darkest of nights, we can say with the psalmist: “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me” (Ps. 63:8).
James Montgomery Boice was diagnosed with liver cancer in the spring of 2000. On May 7, he spoke these words to his congregation when he read the call to worship: “If God does something in your life, would you change it? If you’d change it, you’d make it worse. It wouldn’t be as good.” Wise words. The call to worship that was read was 1 Chronicles 16:23–30a. He was ushered into glory a mere eight weeks after the diagnosis.
God is sovereign—absolutely and eternally sovereign:
- Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Ps. 115:3)
- Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Ps. 135:6)
Once again, the words of Dr. Boice:
Above all, I would say pray for the glory of God. If you think of God glorifying Himself in history and you say, “Where in all of history has God most glorified Himself?” He did it at the cross of Jesus Christ, and it wasn’t by delivering Jesus from the cross, though He could have.
As I am writing now, the piles of rubble have been hauled away; the branches and fallen trees have been removed. Many of the damaged dwellings now look normal again—at least on the outside. But, in reality, a lifetime will not bring things back to the way they were.
The question is: How have I been changed? For one thing, I have been reminded that life is transitory and all that I possess here, even the most precious possession, is temporal. I have also been reminded once again that I must be ready today to pass into eternity and stand before God.
Our lives may be touched by unexpected things. It may not be a storm. It may be a serious health crisis, an automobile accident, or any number of other things that surprise us by their sudden arrival. Remember that our God is on the throne, He is directing history and the details of our lives. Live today for the glory of God and let your life clearly manifest that you belong to Him and love Him.