I will face the future in God's Hands. Fear series Romans 8:28

 12 Steps to Living Without Fear--God's Providence Romans 8

  I discovered a new devotional for these 40 days and this seems a strange and unusual way to bring up a message about living without fear( as our focus is God working with us to make all things work together for good.) But listen this is our reality as well.  God's ways are not our ways despite our thinking. He is in charge, bluf ( bottom line up front) and would we want it any other way?

"But the Lord did not say, “I am going up to Jerusalem.” He said, “We are going.” It is this “we” that we 

have to emphasize. For it does not apply only to those 

first disciples; it also applies to us insofar as we want 

to be his followers. For us, too, the way to glory passes 

through suffering and death. To suffer with Christ 

for sin in the obedience of faith; to give up all foolish 

wishes and vain hopes with our eyes fixed on him; with 

him and in love to him to give our old self up to death; 

to die with him in quiet confidence in a blessed resurrection when our last hour comes; and then to be with 

him forever in the heavenly Jerusalem–this is our task.

If a stranger should ask us on our pilgrim way, 

“Where are you going?” then our whole life and being 

should answer, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” When 

young people are accepted into the church and then 

have to face the world, when newlyweds begin their 

married life together, when men or women are given a 

new task–they should say to themselves, “We are going 

up to Jerusalem.” Not only at this season of Lent when 

we accompany our Lord on his way to suffering and 

the cross, but throughout our whole walk on this earth, 

both in the springtime and in the winter of life, may this 

remain our watchword: “We are going up to Jerusalem.” "from Johann Ernst von Holst (1828–1898)who was a 

Lutheran pastor in the Baltic country of Latvia.

--the death of a local dr and his daughter in a car accident last week brought up the reality of our fragile lives to me so abruptly. I knew him and he had been our DR for 2 years, and I remember some  conversations we had .  

In the midst of seemingly tragic and horrific events God is calling us to give up the idea that in time things work out.  No, God works out things according to Romans 8.  God does this with our actions as well.  The Greek word is sunergeó: to work together.

" Don't be afraid of falling apart. Some of the most beautiful hearts were built from tragedy."  Samantha Gabardi

1.  What are you and I going thru in our lives that was not on our list but was on God's?  

---perhaps our view of life is distorted and not Biblical?  

When Jeanice left us abruptly I questioned it.  I questioned it because she had a lot to give still here.  But God had a different idea, and my way was not His.

The Apostle Paul writes about this in Philippians 1:12, " But I would have you understand, brethren , that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." He speaks of being in prison and how this gave confidence to others to " speak the word without fear." 1:14

The point is that God uses everything for our good and His glory despite outward appearances.

Esther becomes the queen to Ahasuerus of Persia. She was personally chosen by the King. “The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him” (2:17), probably because of her beauty and intelligence.

  Chapters 3-4, Mordecai (Esther’s guardian) refused to bow down and pay homage to Haman a high official of the king. Haman becomes infuriated and plots to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom because of his pride. Mordecai hears of the plot and reports it to his Esther. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (4:14).

There is a reason.

Psalm 37:16  " A little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholdeth the righteous."

2. God is our future.

" He created us to receive and return His love.  In Christ, He reconciled us to Himself so that we could know and love Him.  We couldn't do that on our own. " Ogilivie

And then in our troubles and difficult days of good or bad health, we remember that " Psalm 46[a]

"1 God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging"

---We call this idea that God is our Director and providential Leader for all the minute things and major things of our lives, the Providence of God.  ( lit. pro-video / God sees before it happens).  Here is a good reminder: " Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

"God "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:11). Civilizations have risen and fallen. Great leaders of nations have reigned and have been dethroned. And all the while, God has been in control. David prayed to the Lord, "Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all" (1 Chronicles 29:12). With the rise and fall of every world ruler, God has been in control. Yes, He has been doing what He wanted to do, when He wanted to do it, in the way He wanted to do it, for the purpose He wanted to accomplish, and using whomever He would.  ""Bible.org

This poem is helpful as well:

" He Maketh No Mistake

My Father's way may twist and turn,

My heart may throb and ache,

But in my soul I'm glad I know

He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away,

But still I'll trust my Lord to lead,

For He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break,

I'll pin my faith, my all in Him,

He maketh no mistake.

There's so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight's far too dim;

But come what may, I'll surely trust

And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift

And plain it all He'll make;

Through all the way, though dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

The last step which I chose to talk about today because it seemed so relevant to our lives today from Ogilvie says,"  I will give up the vague idea that given time things work out.  I will boldly face the future unafraid with the sure confidence that God will work all things together for my ultimate good, and His glory."

(A. M. Overton)"  from bible.org  poem above .

  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.