Proverbs 21:1
The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow recently posted a photo on Facebook that featured a portion of Route 4 in Vermont before and after Tropical Storm Irene visited the area. You can see the photo at http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/13/7736973-route-4-in-vermont-after-hurricane-irene. The change in the roadway and nearby river is dramatic, to say the least… and gives illustration to how the LORD determines the course of such pathways!
Do not misunderstand me… I am in no way declaring that God caused Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and the devastation it wrought… though clearly, He could. But the power of “nature” is God-given. He created the wind, rain, rivers, forests, and all that surrounds us… and He can surely change the course of a river whenever He chooses – and in a matter of minutes or hours! He can also bring about change in leadership in the same way – and just as quickly.
On the reality TV show Project Runway, host Heidi Klum declares, “One day you’re in, and the next, you’re out!” And in the Old Testament, we see this over and again with rulers and kings who are powerful and effective one moment… and the next thing you know, they are dead and gone – or ousted in favor of a new ruler. But we’re not rulers or leaders… so what does this mean for us?
The point is that God is in control… and He can bring about all kinds of shifts and changes in the blink of an eye. He can allow us to come to our knees in order to awaken us to His will for our lives… and He can rescue us in a heartbeat. We need to recognize that God can change the entire course of our life in an instant. Just as the graphic illustration of Vermont’s Route 4 shows us, the change can seem drastic and devastating… but God can bring tremendous growth – and even improvement – from such destruction. When you are in the middle of a crisis and a change in course, it may be hard to see this. But never underestimate God’s power… and His perfection!
I don’t know what course God is changing for you today. I don’t know what path He may be showing you… or what temporary “wash-out in the road” you may be facing. But I do know that the same God who controls rulers and the course of rivers stands ready to help you find the perfect track for your own life. Our job is to be awake and alert… to pay attention to God’s direction… and to trust Him when the “tropical storms” arise. Whose course are you on today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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