Who is God? In Charge, Not in Total Control—but Ready to Take Over, Sovereign sans Dictatorship

Trying hard not to congratulate myself, I still wouldn’t have turned down a small gold medal had the Lord dispatched an angel (or two) to my son’s bedroom to honor my awesomeness. Holy, hushed silence filled the room. I sat on my 10-year-old's bed with my treasured NIV Bible on my lap, open to the glorious verbiage of King David’s writings. I read—with passion, eloquence, and fervor, I might add—the last verse of Psalm 22. With a voice rivaling any Broadway leading lady, I concluded the night’s reading with, “They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

John's sleepy-before-bedtime sky-blue eyes rested on my face. In the silence, I could sense his mind was deep in thought. He gazed heavenward and spoke. “Mom, do you think...”

Time stood still. My mind raced with delight, awaiting a grand theological question:

What shall be thy inquiry, son? I give thee all my divine understanding. I shall impart wisdom and knowledge I hath gained! Pray tell, what do ye want to know? How David slew the great giant? Doth ye seeketh the mysteries of Creation? Scorn not will I any Biblical confusion, but will gracefully teacheth you!

John completed his sentence: “...your nose is somehow connected to your mouth? Because I know people can put something up their nose, and then it can come out their mouth.”

I no longer anticipated a reward from an angelic messenger. I sat stunned. Childhood memories swirled in my brain of a kid named Charley in my 6th-grade band class. Charley’s “claim to fame” was his ability to stuff his gold chain (that he would, with fanfare, remove from his neck) up one nostril, then sniffing aggressively, snort it somewhere up into his head. Forceful coughs and gags came next. The grand finale commenced as Charlie, with utmost delight and self-admiration, pulled the chain out of his mouth. The boys would hoot and cheer as we girls cringed in horror and turned away in disgust.

Reining my thoughts back onto my son and the late hour, I gently closed my Bible. John waited for an answer to his all-important query.

“Well, yeah, the nose does connect to the mouth." I stammered. "One can put something up their nose and have it come out their mouth. Kind of gross, but yes, it can be done.”

I offered a quick prayer, told John goodnight, and dismissed the ordeal, knowing I’d get a few laughs recounting the story.

Of all people, parents of young children know all too well that they are “in charge” of their offspring, yet not in “total control.” While I was in command of John's bedtime routine, I couldn’t force him to carry the same zeal I had about Psalm 22 when his little boy mind preferred to contemplate the fine art of grossing out his friends. Not being able to control a situation can be frustrating, annoying, or maybe a bit humorous. However, I’m sure anyone reading this knows it can also be devastating.

Mercy Missing

Trying hard not to congratulate myself, I stood at perfect attention on the high school practice football field, clarinet in grip. Marching band was serious business in my small hometown, and every section, from flute to tuba, worked tirelessly to execute a flawless halftime show that we’d perform at every home football game. My fellow bandmates and I had finished a long day at school, but while other kids fled campus and headed for home (or the nearby Sonic), we band members trudged in the hot afternoon sun to the field for rehearsal. Our dedication made me proud. It wasn’t easy memorizing the music, plus the detailed steps and movements of a choreographed marching band performance. When firetruck and ambulance sirens began to blare in the distance, I noticed but quickly dismissed them. Probably a small house fire somewhere. They’ll handle it.

Exhausted and sweaty at the conclusion of band practice, I drove home to precious air conditioning, emergency sirens forgotten. My phone rang. When I heard my friend Nancy’s voice, I assumed she had called about a social studies assignment or an upcoming birthday party. No, she wanted to make sure I’d heard the news: a boy in our school had died in a car accident a few hours earlier. I collapsed onto a nearby sofa. Jackson? The gregarious and hilarious kid in my Spanish class? Jackson was by no means a close friend, but he treated all with kindness, and we usually said hi as we found our seats before the bell rang. He always made Spanish extra fun and exciting with his antics. His family and close friends were beyond devastated, but this was my first experience with the death of someone I knew.

Heartbroken, I hung up the phone and bawled. Floods of emotions washed over me, but the strongest by far—downright fury.

WHY GOD!? He was so young! Just 16 years old! He was so nice, and everyone loved him! Lord, why didn’t You do something!?

I wanted a darn good explanation on how in the world God could be All-Powerful (Genesis 1:1), Author of Salvation (John 3:16), Sovereign (Jeremiah 32:17), Possessive of All-Authority (Isaiah 40:10) yet He couldn’t take control to save my friend? The God-of-Angel-Armies (Psalm 24:10) couldn't dispatch an angel (or two) to slow Jackson down while he steered his car on dangerous corner driving to work? How could my part-the-red-sea-raise-Lazarus-from-the-dead Heavenly Father allow this to happen?

What is God’s role here on Earth in overcoming/stopping/thwarting evil and/or all-things-awful-in-general? Is He in charge, in control, both, or neither?

For the most part, humans are reasonable—we can accept that people make their own bad choices, resulting in less-than-desirable consequences. Still, we react with alarm when tragedy hits those we think are innocent, undeserving, or too young to know better…or simply too young. It’s true, my friend had been speeding, but what about a little mercy? Young and stupid go together like football timeouts and brass sections blasting (off-key) Land of 1000 Dances. Most of us, when we were 15-19 years old (give or take a few years either way), probably did something “dumb” that could have led to our untimely death.

Jesus Loves You—Truth or Hype?

God is Love or Jesus Loves You are pithy declarations heard in some form in every church across America and in nearly every Christian-themed book, poem, or music. Yet I can’t help but think about those who grieve from a soul-crushing loss. Flowery, cliché words in sympathy cards fall upon these numb hearts having a very hard time believing “love” and “God” indeed go together. It’s not only personal loss I’m certain convinces people in their hearts that a Supreme Being, at least a loving one, doesn’t exist. Visit a world news website, and any sensible soul would conclude Death and Destruction know neither restraint nor limit.

December 25, 2004. Christmas kicked off with good food, relaxation, and times of laughter as my family exchanged “white elephant” gifts—“presents” wrapped from your own home that were odd, useless, and/or ugly (extra points). My niece opened a hideous brown and orange candle in the shape of a gnarled tree trunk. Everyone chuckled when my husband unwrapped a stuffed toy raccoon with a built-in AM radio. I went to bed that evening, content and clueless of an impending disaster.

December 26, 2004, the entire globe mourned. An earthquake occurred somewhere in the depths of the Indian Ocean. Although Indian Ocean quakes are typical and usually harmless (1), this one wasn’t. Studies conducted later found this seismic shift measured at an astounding 9.0 magnitude. Experts reported the quake had the strength of 23,000 Hiroshima-style bombs. The tsunami that followed destroyed everything and everyone in its path. Monster waves crashed into the coastlines of eleven countries from Africa to Thailand, leaving behind shocking annihilation. By the time a subdued New Year’s celebration rolled around, the staggering number of lives lost across multiple countries stretched into the hundreds of thousands. A final estimated tally of fatalities totaled over 227,800. (2) It seemed to me during the tsunami aftermath that God was neither in charge nor in control of anything.

Sovereign without Servitude

King David wrote these words about Our Creator:

Psalm 103:19, NIV: The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

To me, it sounds like God should have the power and ability to do lots of things, especially in the “stop terrible stuff from happening” category. Looking further, Timothy said of Jesus, "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords." (1 Timothy 6:15, NASB) The Greek word “sovereign” is “dunastés” (probably where we get “dynasty” from) and means “one who rules by force, a ruler, potentate. It also means "courtier," or a "member of the court." The perplexing question is this—does "sovereign" equal absolute, total control?

All I can say is I’ve read the Bible many times from Genesis to Revelation, and what I gather is at Creation, before Adam and Eve, God spoke, and, by the power of His words alone, the universe formed (Genesis 1). Yet, once He made man and woman, it appears that He, still in charge with all power and ability to do literally anything, gave control of what transpires in the world to humans. He can and will intervene with His power, but this depends on the faith, words, and actions of His children. God didn’t form us so He could have robotic slaves. His heart always was and still is set on relationships. Although He’s Supreme Ruler, with my not-a-Bible-scholar reasoning, I believe what He will and even can do depends on His representatives—His true church.

Blasphemy? Heresy? Maybe. I did spend a majority of my time in Bible college (didn’t graduate) dreaming about the cute Australian guy sitting next to me in Acts class (we will celebrate 30 years of marriage in August 2027). There are many perplexing issues in life where I wish the Lord had spelled things out with greater clarity in Scripture, yet concerning the oft-repeated question of, “How could God let this happen?” we can only study Biblical history to understand who He is and how He functions.

Disclaimer—I’m not a chaplain, minister, or even a Sunday School teacher. I have no college degree (in Religion or anything else). It’s silly for someone as unqualified and uneducated as myself to tackle the lofty subject of “Is God in Control?” To properly address this conundrum, I’d guess it would take volumes of books from a team of highly esteemed theologians with multiple master's degrees. Somewhere on Amazon.com, something like that probably exists. All I can offer is my two-cent (maybe only worth 1 cent) comments on: If there is a loving God, why [fill in the blank of all things hell related]?

God’s “I Will” Included Elijah’s Actions

Many believe (including Christians) that God is in full control, and whatever takes place, He, the Dictator-In-Chief, either authored or allowed it. For proof, they may reference Psalm 135:6 (NASB)—"Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths." Does this verse prove God controls everything on Earth? The Bible states in a myriad of verses that God is loving, patient, fair, and kind. Why, if He can do “whatever He pleases,” do bad things occur, especially to good people and innocent children? I believe the more important question is this: How does God do whatever He pleases?

To find answers, the events detailed in 1 Kings 17-18 is a great place to start. Because of sin, Israel experienced a severe drought, but God had plans for deliverance. First Kings 18:1 says, “Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, ‘Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will provide rain on the face of the earth.’” God said, “I will provide rain.” Yet, interestingly, another human, Elijah, had to be involved in bringing about what God said He’d most certainly do:

1 Kings 18:41-45, NLT: Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.

Even though God said, “I will,” Elijah climbed a mountain and “prayed with his face between his knees.” The “face between the knees” posture refers to intense, travailing prayer. Not once, but seven times while Elijah is in serious intercession, he sends his servant to check the sky for rain clouds. Why? Seems odd if “whatever the Lord pleases, He does…” From this event, I can only conclude one thing—to accomplish His will, God must have someone partnering with Him to release His can-do-anything power to take over control in certain situations and do what He wants.

It may appear crazy to infer that God does not, will not, or even cannot do anything unless He partners with someone (or a group of people), yet Amos 3:7 (NASB) says, “Certainly the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret plan to His servants the prophets.” Also, Numbers 12:6 reads, “Now hear My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make Myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.” A prophet is not just someone who listens, but takes action. He or she will speak the words God revealed to them, write them down, and pray.

What if The Almighty desires to do good, yet no one is listening for Him?

Who’s to Blame?

Personally, I want the Lord to swoop in and save us from all the plots of the devil regardless of what we idiots say or do. Nonetheless, I must admit that’s not how He seems to work. He is in charge, all-powerful, and ready to take over control in the face of evil events, impending death, and oncoming destruction—but the delivery of His saving power, I believe, relies upon His servants. Here are two more Biblical examples:

Exodus 17: 11-13: So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Acts 3:2-7: And a man who had been unable to walk from birth was being carried…When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple grounds, he began asking to receive a charitable gift. But Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us!” And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

In both passages, God carried out His saving plans not with a clap of His hands or a wave of some mystical staff, but through the faithfulness, declarations, and deeds of Moses and Peter.

E.M. Bounds, a master on the subject of prayer, said this: “Prayer projects faith on God, and God on the world. Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God.” (Necessity of Prayer, 1929)

Back to the 2004 tsunami—is it plausible that God wanted to release His power to stop such a catastrophic disaster and sent, via His Holy Spirit promptings, or even dreams, to specific Christians to begin interceding weeks, months, or even years before that gut-wrenching day? And, what if those Christians were too busy watching TV, socializing, “doing ministry” in their church, or distracted with daily life and neglected to follow the prayer assignment of Holy Spirit? Or, was there some reason this calamity had to manifest beyond our understanding? What about Jackson? What if God’s answer to my “Why didn't You do anything!?” was “I did, yet no one paid attention.”? Or again, maybe his death was part of some divine plan that would make sense 200 years from now. Still, it’s hard to fathom the “why” when an innocent child is killed or abused by an adult, or a faithful, Godly, and loving spouse (especially with young kids) is laid to rest before a shattered family. Is God to blame or not?

Faulty Formulas

Math has never been a strong skill of mine. In fourth grade, I pestered a teacher so much for help with a division assignment that, in exasperation, she finally said, “Don’t worry about doing the worksheet, Kathryn. Leave the questions blank and turn it in.” However, I do appreciate the certainty of mathematical rules: 2+2 always equals 4. It's not complicated and works every time.

I must admit I’ve searched for “formulas” in prayer. Convinced that God carries out His will through His people, I’ve desperately wanted to find answers for those who feel forsaken by the Lord, who they thought should have taken over and stopped something horrible from happening. After a heartbreaking defeat, I’d set out to analyze “what went wrong.” Author Terri Brown has written a fantastic book I highly recommend titled, Troubleshooting Your Prayer Life: Connecting with God through the Delays, Detours, and Dead Ends In it, she says, “There is a truth in prayer that works, but it is not a formula. It is a principle rooted in a relationship.”

Jesus talked a lot about faith. I get it. Trying to comprehend this world and God’s exact role in what goes on is impossible. Faith steps into the unknown and says to the Lord, “I trust You even though it doesn’t make sense.” Still, I do know God isn’t in total control of everything on earth. If He were, the names Hitler and Mao Zedong would mean nothing. Everyone on the planet would worship Him in Spirit and in truth: "God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3, NASB). Although true, distress, depression, and sorrow are real—even when walking in faith. Life, regardless of who you are, is full of difficulties.

One Saved, One Lost

“We can't take away the mystery of why some prayers are unanswered or some people aren't healed, but we can walk closely with the Lord so we know we have done our part.”
Terri Brown, Troubleshooting Your Prayer Life, used with permission.

July 13, 2024, 7PM. My husband and I had enjoyed dinner at our friend’s house, and after eating, we all headed to their large deck to sit and chat in the refreshing evening breeze. While we talked, our friend received an odd text: “I hope Trump is OK.” What!? I grabbed my phone and tapped on my “X” app. Appalled yet in awe, I watched the replay of former President Trump reaching up to grab his ear milliseconds after a gunshot. I thanked God when I saw him stand up and thrust his fist in the air. Okay, he’s alright. Please know, I realize some reading this may not be a MAGA fan, yet I think we can all agree none of us want to see any of our leaders, Democrat or Republican, physically harmed. Within hours, many in the media declared “divine intervention!” Scrolling through social media, I saw many memes depicting an angel’s hand helping Trump to turn his head at the right moment, causing an assassin’s bullet to rip through a small portion of his ear instead of his head. Even so, amidst the celebrations of his supporters, I couldn’t help but pause and wonder how all this talk of angelic assistance made one devastated family feel.

A retired fire chief named Corey entered through the gates of Heaven that day. I grieved for his wife and daughter, whom he shielded as soon as he heard the first shot. Although it may not be a popular question, I believe it is one many have struggled with: Why did God so obviously protect one man but not another? Was this “God’s will?” Or, did God prompt a select group of Christians to pray protection specifically over the attendees of this rally, and they missed it because of various “distractions” or immaturity in their walk with the Lord? I don’t know. In my own struggles to grasp why “bad things happen to good people,” I am drawn to a familiar passage:

Isaiah 55:8-9, NASB: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Illogical Peace

I may or may not have heard clearly, but one afternoon years ago, I was, yet again, mad, or at least disappointed, in God. At that time, I had watched in agony and soul-draining discouragement for over eight years my mother’s decline because of Alzheimer’s disease.

I had prayed.
I had fasted.
I had spoken what I believed to be God’s word concerning my mom.

Other strong and mighty prayer warriors interceded, yet I saw no improvement in her, only a slow, miserable, dreadful deterioration.

She was “here,” but not really. Determined never to abandon her, despite the torment it caused me, I visited her at the memory care facility multiple times a week. My mother was gone, yet I had to face her at each sobering visit. I sobbed and asked God why this was so hard.

"I miss her so much!" I screamed at God.

Again, maybe I misheard, but I sensed God’s spirit compassionately and gently answer: I know.

Quick to retort, I responded, "Really? You know? So why don’t You do something?"

Beyond logic, I felt peace after my meltdown. I confessed that God could have given up on me because of my sins, yet He didn’t, so I couldn’t give up on trusting Him even though I could not see any reason for all the heartache. The best I could do was to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord and mature in my faith. Honestly, what would the world look like if all followers of Christ took their faith seriously and represented Jesus Christ in His mercy and power? Would it be as dark as it is now? My best guess: no, absolutely not.

John 14:12: Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father.

Please know that no matter what you are going through or what has happened to you, God sees your pain. I’m certain He isn’t the author of any disease, abuse, or tribulation. He is not the mastermind of everything that takes place, yet one day, those of us who have accepted His Son Jesus as Lord and given our lives to Him, will understand—all of it. Until then, on this side of Heaven, we must acknowledge His ways are beyond our comprehension and choose to trust Him and keep going.

“Trouble is neither above God nor beyond His control. It is not something in life independent of God. No matter from what source it springs nor whence it arises, God is sufficiently wise and able to lay His hand upon it without assuming responsibility for its origin, and work it into His plans and purposes concerning the highest welfare of His saints.” E.M. Bounds (The Essentials of Prayer, 1925)

Sources:
(1) http://ds.iris.edu/seismon/eventlist/index.phtml?region=Indian_Ocean

(2) https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-2004-indian-ocean-tsunami