Who is control of what is happening in our chaotic world?

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Acts 17:24-28

I had a conversation this morning this morning with three people at my doctor’s office. We were speaking about the sad state of affairs in our world. One of them voiced concern about how a handful of powerful people are controlling everything and that they must be stopped. Another chimed in, “Yes, but how?”

What an opportunity!

I stated my theory about “conspiracy theories.” I said, “I don’t think people are smart enough to control the world. What is happening is spiritual. Our world is under a spiritual delusion, the ‘powerful people’ who appear to control everything are pawns, being used by the powers of darkness. The great news,” I continued, “is that the Sovereign God is in complete control over everything in the universe. Even the powers of darkness are 100% subject to Him. I do not claim to understand everything God is doing, but my trust is in Him—no matter what I see happening in the world.” I told these folks that there is great comfort—especially in uncertain times—in knowing that God is the Sovereign over all, and that He only always does good.

There was a brief silence. Then the man (who voiced concern about the powerful people he believed are in control of all things) said, “You know, I think you are right. That really is comforting.”

The conversation was cut short at that point because that is what happens in the doctor’s office. I have a slew of follow up appointments between now and New Years. I am praying about how to keep the conversation going in the coming two months!

What a comfort it is that God is sovereignly in control even as we are witnessing the crumbling of our world.