Have you ever felt like erasing a particular day from history? When I reflect on my life, there are about a handful of moments that I wish I could erase from my existence: decisions I wish I never made, days that I wish were all a dream, moments in time that I wish had never happened. Certainly 2020 has felt like that  for some people and I have seen memes calling for 2020 to be deleted from history!

This week as I read the book of Esther, I could identify with the people of Israel living in Susa who one day were going about their normal activities and the next were staring down a notice of a death sentence. I could identify with Job who just wanted the day he was born to be obliterated from history! How quickly the circumstances of life can change! Anyway the book of Esther is one that demonstrates the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresence of God in a tangible way. And for those of us just absorbing the stories in the book of Esther God’s power and invisible yet capable hand is manifest as a series of coincidences. God comes through for the Israelites over and over again using what appears to happenstance to remind us that He rules in the affairs of men!

Are you having one of those days (or weeks, or months, or years) where nothing seems to working out like you thought it would? Well…here is my encouragement: Nothing takes God by surprise. He is still very much in control of His universe (and yes although it may not seem like it 2020 is not a runaway train… God is driving this engine!).  So here are a few scriptures to remind you of God’s sovereignty.:

“Remember this, and show yourselves men; recall to mind, O you transgressors.
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and
there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things
that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it”
(Isaiah 46:8–11)

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10–11).

‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the
holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men” (Daniel 4:17).

He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21).

They raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made
heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant
David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of
the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against His Christ.’ For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered
together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts
4:24–28)

This was definitely not the direction this blogpost was going in my mind (speak of runaway trains…lol) but I know that I am more encouraged now than I was starting the post and I hope that you are encouraged too.

Don’t forget to share with a friend. They may need a reminder too that GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE.

Yours Truly.