Letting God Take Over Your Life Series

CONCLUSION

A. Richard and Geneva Culp made it through their difficulties:

A year-and-a-half later, God gave us our new direction. Geneva and I were offered a management position at an exclusive, 2,600-acre waterfowl hunting club in northern California. The club catered to wealthy clients. As we served at the club in numerous ways, we realized again and again that money and possessions cannot bring happiness. We had lost everything, yet we had joy in our lives.

After we had been at the club for about a year, I received a call from the head of the credit company that had taken our farm. He wanted to talk with us and insisted on making the hour’s drive out to the hunting club.

As we sat together, he said, "I want to ask you something personal. A friend of mine recently lost everything he owned. His wife just committed suicide. We at the office have noticed that you two are handling this crisis differently than most people do. Can you tell me what your secret is?"

I was happy to explain. "We believe in the God of the Bible. He is sovereign over our lives, and he is in control. Even though the pain is real, we are confident of this: God has proven sufficient and able to take care of us."

Geneva added, "God’s Word promises, ’Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’"

It was true. Throughout the entire ordeal, we never felt alone for a single moment. Later, as the head of the credit company rose to leave, he thanked us. "You’ve given me a lot to think about," he said quietly.

B. God will provide a way for you, too, as Don Moen found:

Thousands of Christians in North America sing Don Moen’s praise song, God Will Make a Way, which affirms God’s sovereign involvement in our lives. Most who sing his lyrics don’t know their origin.

Several years ago, Don was awakened in the middle of the night. His mother-in-law called to tell him of a tragic car accident involving his wife’s sister, Susan. Susan and her husband, Craig, and their four little boys were on a trip when the tragedy occurred. Jeremy, age eight and the oldest of the four boys, was killed instantly. The others were seriously injured.

As Don and his wife grieved and poured out their hearts to the Lord, they felt helpless at communicating hope and grace to Susan and Craig.

Don recalls how God helped him through the tragedy.

It was as if the Lord gave me these words:

God will make a way when there seems to be no way.

He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.

He will be my guide; hold me closely to his side.

With love and strength for each new day, he will make a way.