“This is God’s universe, and God does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe.” – J. Vernon McGee

If you’re like me, you look at events in our world and wonder. Who will “win” the war in Ukraine? Or exercise control in the United Nations? Or be our next president? And how will it all affect me?

Then I read about Jeremiah who was told to give this message the kings of Judah and five neighboring nations: “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me” (Jeremiah 27:5).

They were worried about the Babylonians and were trying to figure it all out on their own. But God’s message was clear: He was in control. They were not.

That’s still true. It’s God’s universe, not ours. We spend a lot of energy focusing on the power struggles in our world. It’s right for us to care. It’s not right for us to worry. It’s our job to yield to God and his control. It’s our job to trust him.

If we can learn to relax into trusting him, we don’t have to have answers to all our questions, we don’t get distressed about news headlines, and we don’t get anxious about end times or in-between times.

Instead, we focus on God’s trustworthiness, kindness, faithfulness, and power.

If we can learn to relax into trusting him, we trade in our stresses for peace. We feel loved and secure. We then can love others. Suddenly, life is not a problem to be solved, but an adventure to be lived.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

Photo from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope