A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 4Sample

Who Controls Your Future?

One of the great fears people face in life is the fear of the future. You likely fear the future for your family, friends, job, and community—and everything else in between.

Because you’re not in control, it’s natural to fear. But that realization should drive you to trust God more deeply.

You might not be in control of your future, but God is. He created the whole universe. If he wanted to, the Lord could just snap it out of existence in a moment. Yet he is working his plan in history. He is moving history to a climax—a destiny. One day Jesus Christ will come back to Earth. Nothing will stop that.

Just as God is working in history to move events toward a particular moment, he will work in your life for a purpose, too—if you’ll let him.

The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

God’s Word doesn’t say that everything is good. It also doesn’t say that God causes everything that happens. He doesn’t cause war. He doesn’t cause cancer. He doesn’t cause rape, abuse, or molestation. He doesn’t cause evil. People do that. God gives people the freedom to choose. Evil is the price of that freedom.

But the Bible does say that God causes everything to work together for good. He can take the sinful and unhealthy decisions you’ve made in life and use them for good if you’ll trust him. Romans 8:28 isn’t a promise for everyone, though. It’s for “those who love God.” It’s for those who trust God and say, “Here, Lord, you take all the broken pieces of my life and put them together.”

This is why, when I read the headlines each day, I don’t worry. Sure, there are a lot of problems in the world today, but God is still in control. God is still moving history to a climax. And God is still moving his people toward his best for them. One day God will work everything out for his purpose.

Because God is in control, you can trust him with everything.

Talk It Over

• How does knowing God is in control help you to trust him better?
• Think of a time when God took a bad decision and made something good out of it?
• What’s one fear of the future you want to hand over to God today?

God’s Love Is the Answer to Your Fears

When you know that God will never stop loving you, you can let go of your fears. He is in control, and he has your best interest in mind. He will never abandon you.

You don’t have to earn God’s love or work your way into heaven. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to you. I want to live my life the way you want me to.

“Jesus, I want to relax in your love. Thank you that I don’t have to earn it or work for it. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name, I pray. Amen.”

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.