He hasn’t caused but HE has permitted…

because GOD is in control my plans have a limit and my problems have a purpose. now if that is true, and it is, then how should i respond to my problems knowing that every problem has a purpose behind it and that GOD hasn't caused it but has permitted it for a reason?

let's look at an example: job. job was the wealthiest man in the world and he lost it all overnight. he went bankrupt and all of his family was killed except his nagging wife. then he got a dreaded disease and he's miserable. even satan couldn't get at job without GOD's permission. satan had to come to GOD and say, “can i do this to job” and GOD said, “you can do this and no more.”

satan cannot even get at your life without GOD's permission. there are not two GOD's of equal authority. satan is a creature like anything else. there is only one GOD and even satan has to do what GOD says. HE only allows him here for a short period of time to produce a race of tested individuals and then he will be destroyed. if you lost everything the way job did, how would you respond?

job 1.21 (lb), the LORD gave me everything i had, and they were HIS to take away [please note: they were HIS to take away]. blessed be the name of the LORD. job says, everything i have comes from GOD anyway. HE gave it to me, HE can take it all away. it is HIS right.

now the end of the story is that GOD later restored everything the devil had taken away, twice as much. job was twice as wealthy, twice as many kids.

GOD is in control. if he wants to turn off a faucet HE can turn it on elsewhere. you lose a job. big deal! GOD can give you another one. bankrupt? big deal! GOD can turn it around because HE is in control. you say “blessed be the name of the LORD. HE is in control.” HE is a good GOD and knows what HE's doing.

just a thought from the front porch…