This year I am working through a devotional book by a man named Walter Henrichsen called “Thoughts From the Diary of a Desperate Man.” I would dare to say that it is equal to if not superior to the classic work by Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”. I read the following except from his work, and wanted to get feedback from others on the truth contained within these penned words. It is on how to survive the “crap storms” of this life.

Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

If you desire a satisfactory relationship with God, two pillars must be firmly anchored in your life. You must believe that He is in control and that He has your best interest at heart.

The sovereignty of God must be a deeply held conviction. When my son was dying of leukemia, a friend wrote, “I don’t know how this tragedy came about, but I do know that it did not come from God. God is not in the business of killing little children.” As I pondered his observation, I concluded that if God did not kill my son, then I have a fare greater problem that my son dying. I worship a god who is not in control. God was not sitting on the edge of the universe chagrined over the disease that ravaged my son’s life. AS I held my son in my arms while he slipped into eternity, I knew that I was experiencing the beautiful handiwork of God.

This naturally leads to the second essential pillar: The goodness of God. God is good. He is incapable of doing anything but good. The debate, like so many debates in life, is over who gets to determine what good looks like. do you truly believe that the hurts of life come from the hand of a good God who only does what is best for you?

The write of Hebrews, quoting from the Psalmist says, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”There are only two people in life that can hurt you: you and God. Because He is good, seeking only your best, in the final analysis, only you can destroy your life. He does not delegate your destiny to Satan or any other force on earth.

Without these pillars firmly embedded in your convictions, you will find it difficult to survive the storms of life.

At the core of our beliefs about God, we must cling to the reality that He is a GOOD God, and that He is always in control. I cannot imagine myself in this man’s shoes, and I pray that I never find myself there, but in the event that God determines that to be the road I walk down, the only thing that will get me through it is believing without a doubt that God is good, and that He is in control. I love the words Walter uses to describe the death of His son…”I knew that I was experiencing the beautiful handiwork of God.” It takes a deep connect to God and understanding of His constant control and goodness to utter such words.

What “Crap Storms” are you walking through today? At your core do you believe that God is good, and that He is in control? Whatever you are walking through know that God is allowing you to walk through it. He is in control, He is good, and He always has your best interest at heart!