Sovereign in All Things

After you’ve been out of the country for almost a year, it’s amazing how quickly you lose touch with the latest movies and songs in the U.S.   Chris Tomlin is one of our favorite singers, and we didn’t realize he’d put out a new album until Nafisa saw someone post a link to one of the songs on Facebook.  Compliments of YouTube, we now can listen to it.  We especially like the song “Sovereign.”  We know and trust in God’s complete sovereignty in all things, but sometimes, it’s necessary and refreshing to have a reminder that our Lord is sovereign in all things – not just the good things.  Sometimes, it’s important to be reminded that he’s also sovereign over the difficult things and the hard things.

 We were studying the story of Esther with the kiddos; what a great picture of God’s complete sovereignty!  Imagine getting the news – an official edict from your country’s ruler – a notice of your imminent murder, and not just your’s, but the complete annihilation of your people.  They seemed doomed.  The situation seemed hopeless, but they didn't lose hope.  They trusted.  They fasted, and they prayed.  And God delivered in the most unusual of ways – through a Jewish girl that became queen. 

Even during the difficult times, we can rest in the hope that nothing that happens to us surprises God.  He allows it all for our good and his glory. As many of you know, we have had a rough few weeks as far as illness and injury – chicken pox, parasites, stitches, and most recently, Trevor had to have a minor procedure.  We should get partial ownership in the private hospital here!  But we rest in the knowledge that none of this came as a surprise to our Lord – we’re in the process of developing perseverance!  But please continue to pray for our health and safety as we finish out our year here in language school and prepare to move to Ecuador. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4