Seasons, Kings & Kingdoms

“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

This statement in Scripture is Daniel’s proclamation that he serves the sovereign God of the universe. He is unapologetic about the fact that God is in control of all things at all times. He didn’t try to sweep the reality of God’s interrupting hand under the carpet inferring that our challenging times are just chance, fate, or happenstance. Our seasons of suffering are ushered in by the providential hand of God. He sets up kingdoms of learning that are unique to our weaknesses. He allows something we worship to become our king to prove it will come up short ever time. When death finds our loved ones God is not intimidated by our emotions or our demands of why. He listens to us, His heart breaks with us, and He heals within us.

Providence is God’s intentional and purposeful interruption/intervention in life that mandates our complete focus. God does what He wants, as long as He deems necessary and the manner in which He desires to accomplish His purpose for each of our lives. To walk this journey on earth victoriously, we must believe with complete conviction that everything God allows into our lives is motivated by the same love in which He gave up His only son so we could live eternally with Him. With this truth, how can we question God's love...but sometimes our pain asks the question.

I had lunch with two of my best friends from childhood yesterday and we were discussing how challenging life has been. One of us lost a spouse in her early thirties, one of us has battled breast cancer, and one of us has traveled the road of drug addiction with her teen. God either allowed or ordained our seasons of suffering to accomplish a greater purpose than we may never know. He has spiritual purposes for our earthly walk. We cannot expect God to impart everything that has been accomplished in our times of despair, but we can know that critical work in the heavenlies is being fulfilled. Just as our children cannot understand our decisions for the greater purpose of our families, we cannot understand the greater purposes of God.

When despair interrupts our lives claim 1 Peter 4:12-19. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed…you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian…praise God that you bear that name.’ This verse doesn’t say you will be overjoyed if His glory is revealed…the word is when implying certainty and completion.

When His work is done in our specific kingdoms He will usurp the king and bring the kingdom to an end…Amen…and we will see His glory revealed along with all of His wisdom and knowledge in that season. His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, will prevail.