Trusting God in Areas of Life Beyond Current Control
Trusting God in Areas Beyond Current Control
Trusting God in areas of life beyond current control is rooted in the biblical understanding of God's sovereignty and providence. The Apostle John's statement that "anything which comes from God is able to overcome the world" [1] underscores the idea that God's power surpasses human limitations. This concept is further reinforced by Paul's assertion that faith should be grounded in "God's power" rather than "men's wisdom" [2].
The biblical basis for trusting God in uncontrollable circumstances is closely tied to the doctrine of divine providence. According to Charles Hodge, God's providence involves not only the creation of the world but also his ongoing guidance and control over all events [4]. Hodge argues that God's power is not limited by the laws of nature, but rather, he can operate with or without them [4]. This understanding of providence encourages believers to trust God even when circumstances seem beyond their control.
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Hodge and Calvin, emphasizes the importance of trusting God's sovereignty in all aspects of life. Calvin notes that God's omnipotence provides believers with a sense of security, knowing that everything is subject to his control [8]. Hodge further explains that God's providence is not limited to general oversight but also involves specific, special providence, where God intervenes in particular events [5].
The patristic tradition also contributes to this understanding. Augustine's writings, for example, highlight the importance of perceiving God's spiritual nature, rather than being limited by material or anthropomorphic conceptions [6].
In practical terms, trusting God in areas beyond current control involves recognizing the limits of human understanding and agency. As Hodge observes, human testimony can be a powerful basis for faith, even when direct evidence is lacking [7]. Similarly, the biblical account of God's interactions with humanity demonstrates that faith is often required in the face of uncertainty or adversity.
The biblical warnings about the dangers of not trusting God are also relevant. The author of Hebrews cautions that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" [3], emphasizing the importance of reverence and trust.
Sources
- I John “I John 5:4 (BBE) — Anything which comes from God is able to overcome the world: and the power by which we have overcome the world is our faith.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 2:5 (Rotherham) — In order that, your faith, might not be in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 10:31 (BBE) — We may well go in fear of falling into the hands of the living God.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 73: thus limited. He can operate without second causes as well as with them, or against them. There seems to be no little confusion in the minds of many writers on this subject. They insist on the immutability of the laws of nature, and some times speak of God as constantly controlling their operation by combining and directing their forces, and yet they resolve all second causes into the divine efficiency; that is, an efficiency directed by intelligence and will. “It is but reasonable,” says Sir John Herschel, “to regard the force of gravita”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 30: production of vegetable and animal life, are referred to his universal providential agency. The reference is special. The effect is one which the Scriptures recognize as not within the sphere of second causes, and therefore ascribe to God. They recognize the free agency of man; they acknowledge and treat him as a moral and rational being; they admit the adaptation of of truth to convince the understanding, and of the motives presented to determine the will and to control the affections, and nevertheless they teach that these secondary cau”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 23.--THE ANTHROPOMORPHITES NOT SO (part 1): BAD AS THE MANICHAEANS. 25. Compare, now, not spiritual men of the Catholic faith, whose mind, as far as is possible in this life, perceives that the divine substance and nature has no material extension, and has no shape bounded by lines, but the carnal and weak of our faith, who, when they hear the members of the body used figuratively, as, when God's eyes or ears are spoken of, are accustomed, in the license of fancy, to picture God to themselves in a human form; compare these with th”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 10: admit, that belief is the primary condition of reason, and not reason the ultimate ground of belief. We are compelled to surrender the proud Intellige ut credas of Abelard, to content ourselves with the humble Crede ut intelligas of Anselm.” The same is true in other spheres. The effect on the mind produced by human testimony is universally recognized as faith. If that testimony is inadequate it does not preclude doubt; but it may be so strong as to make all doubt impossible. No sane man ean doubt the existence of such cities as London an”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 32: have full provision for their infants, and others almost none, according as it is the pleasure of God to nourish one child more liberally, and another more sparingly. Those who attribute due praise to the omnipotence of God thereby derive a double benefit. He to whom heaven and earth belong, and whose nod all creatures must obey, is fully able to reward the homage which they pay to him, and they can rest secure in the protection of Him to whose control everything that could do them harm is subject, by whose authority, Satan, with a”