Question 1

Is God in control of my circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 135:6The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths.Isaiah 45:7“I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.”James 4:13-15Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”Nothing happens outside of God’s plan and control. Thus, since you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, and you know God does, you should be humble, trusting him. Make plans, but hold them loosely. Face challenges with the peace of knowing that he is in contol.Genesis 50:19-21Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.Romans 8:28We 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.Not only is God in control of life circumstances, but he is able to bring good out of any circumstance.

Question 2

How does God view my circumstances? How should I view my circumstances?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 17:26David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”2 Chronicles 32:7-8“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.Psalm 34:1I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.Because you know God, you can view life circumstances with his perspective. Israel’s army saw only the giant Goliath; David saw a soldier who was defying Israel’s God—and he knew that God was strong enough to defeat the giant. Likewise, Hezekiah saw the Assyrian army, but he also knew that God was on his side. Try to look beyond your present circumstances to God’s view of your situation. The more you walk in godliness, the more you will see things the way God sees them, but without the eyes of faith your circumstances will often seem insurmountable.Isaiah 45:9“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’”Romans 8:28We 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.View your life circumstances through the lens of God’s design, control, and authority. Did you create the universe—or even your own life? No. Only God, the almighty, can you fully comprehend your life and circumstances. Entrust yourself to him.Hebrews 11:11-12It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.Faith in God’s promises allows you to see more of his work in your life circumstances. The “glasses” you wear color the view.

Question 3

How should I respond to life’s sometimes troubling circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Habakkuk 3:17-19Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.Focus more on the joy, peace, and future that comes from a relationship with God and less on your troubles. You can always respond joyfully to the God who offers you the eternal gift of salvation. The more you wallow in unpleasant circumstances, the more they may drag you under. The more you reach out to God, the more he can lift you up.Ecclesiastes 7:14Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.Matthew 5:44“Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”Ephesians 5:20Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.Accept life’s circumstances with thanksgiving to God, and with trust in his constant presence and comfort. Whether you are currently living in sunshine or rain, God never changes and his love for you never changes. God is always eager to teach you something from both the good and the bad.Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Refuse to worry. One of the hardest lessons of life is to turn worry into confident prayer when bad circumstances come your way. Come to God with your needs in thanksgiving for what he has done for you, trusting that he will bring good out of the difficult.Jeremiah 42:6“Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.”Respond in obedience to God in every circumstance. He knows the larger picture.Romans 8:37-39No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Respond with confidence in God’s love for you. When times are tough, you may blame God and think he doesn’t love you. But that is when you need his love the most. And it’s always there, because nothing can separate you from his love.Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Whether circumstances are good or bad, respond with confidence in God’s strength to help you through.

Question 4

How can I make the most of my circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 17:7-8“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”Trust in the Lord; he is worthy of your hope and confidence. Those who trust in the Lord reap the benefits of his life-sustaining power.Esther 4:13-14Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”God can use you as you are. Start with who you are and what you have, not with who you wish you were and what you don’t have. Seek to obey God in your current circumstances. Mordecai told Esther that God had placed her in a difficult circumstance to do something great for him (in this case, save her people from being slaughtered). God may have you in your current circumstance for “such a time as this.” Seek what God wants you to do, and respond in obedience.James 1:2-3Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.You can experience joy and growth in difficult circumstances. Plants continue to grow even on cloudy days. Life can continue to flourish under cloudy circumstances.Acts 16:23, 25-31, 33-34[Paul and Silas] were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. . . . Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” . . . He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.You can glorify God even in the most difficult of circumstances. When you do, two wonderful things happen: you learn to rely on God and not yourself, and others may be blessed by seeing your faith and hope in action.

Question 5

How does God use circumstances for my good?

Accepted Answer

Romans 5:3-5We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.1 Peter 1:5-7There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.God uses your circumstances for his glory and for your own personal growth. You won’t always know why God sometimes allows bad circumstances, but you can know for sure that God brings good out of the bad. That’s why you can confidently rejoice, even in problems and trials, for God is working in you to make you stronger and more Christlike.2 Corinthians 6:3-7We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.Philippians 1:12-14I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.God uses your circumstances to help spread the gospel. Hardships take you to meet people you might not otherwise. And your character in hardship can testify to the gospel’s truth. When life gets tough believers have a unique opportunity to show how a relationship with God brings comfort, confidence, and hope. Let God develop that humble, faith-filled spirit in you.

Circumstances