Enduring The Permissive Will of God

 

ENDURING THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD

By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing going on on this planet escapes God’s awareness.  Many of us have read what is prophesied about the end times, so we should not be taken by surprise.  If you haven’t read it, I recommend you do.  These things that are happening around us— the chaotic, hateful, deceptive and raging insanities of hell are obviously not God’s “perfect” will, but they are within His “permissive” will, meaning He is allowing it.  

We could say, “How could a loving God allow these things to happen?”  But the question reveals our shortsightedness. God works these things together for ultimate good.  

His plan is as it has been since Adam and Eve fell in the Garden.  God SO loved the world that, in His compassion, He sacrificed the life of His own Son, that “none should perish.”  He paid the highest price to make a way of reconciliation for you and me, and every other imprisoned and tormented soul languishing in sin.

We can come by way of blessing or come by way of discipline, but the constant — the persevering passion of the heart of God — is that in and through these things, the prodigal in all of us would turn around and come home.

Beloved, does there persist within you any darkness — any as of yet unsurrendered remnant of sin?  Pray with me. 

Father, we are shaken by the horrors in our world.  We never imagined these things would happen, but thousands of years ago You caused Your servant to pen Jesus’ message of encouragement to us from across the millennia:  

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NIV

Lord, reveal where the prodigal still lives within us.  Remove the scales from our eyes, so we will humble ourselves and be grieved by our sin.  Forgive us!  Wash us clean.  Hide us in the cleft of the rock.  Shelter us beneath that shadow of your wings, that we may endure. Send Your Spirit of repentance and cause us to come running home.  And as we do, may other prodigals follow.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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