The Lord Is In Control

Very often, I am disappointed that things I have hoped and prayed for do not come to fruition. Similarly, quite often too, I am elated that things I have hoped and prayed for do not come about after seeing how disastrous things would have been if they had. The season of Easter is a season of joy and it is a season of gladsome surprises. It is also a season that teaches me God is in control.

Early Sunday morning, first  day of the week, the disciples were distraught at the turn of events over the weekend. It was totally devastating for them to watch what they had hoped and prayed would be God’s saving actions would end up so disastrously. The apostles were particularly afraid for they could very well be the next one that the Romans will be going after.

And then, totally unexpected, He is alive. He shows himself to Mary. He shows Himself to the eleven. They are in total disbelief at what is happening. He comforts the weeping Mary. He asks Thomas to put his finger into His side. He even cooks a breakfast for them. They had heard Him say He would rise up but they must have taken that with a healthy helping of salt grains. He teaches them God, ultimately, is in control – over death and over life, over sin and over grace, over darkness and over light.

When things do not happen as I have hoped and prayed for, God is cooking up something different and always something better for me; or He is saving me from some catastrophe; or what I have asked for is taking Him a little bit more time and resources to make happen.

I reflect on these verses I am re-blogging from a blog I follow (Morning Story and Dilbert). They speak to me of how God is in control of my life.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey . . .

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things …

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise …

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God .. .

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things …

I got nothing I asked for–but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I, among all men, am most richly blessed!

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
~ Psalm 33

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her.
John 20:11-18