“I guess it’s just meant to be.”
The words rolled off her tongue, a verbal white flag.*
Before, even months ago, I probably would have nodded, smiled, perhaps even commended her for her full surrender.
But now, something rose up inside, indignant.
No. That is not true. The works of the devil are not just “meant to be.”
They are meant to be … destroyed. (1 John 3:8)
The anger that rose up inside wasn’t about me. In fact, it would’ve been easier, in that moment, to assent to this line of thinking. Easier to slip my hand softly on hers, around that white flag, and wave it with her, to resign together to the “will of God” and feel a strange sort of comfort, pride even, that we were chosen to “suffer” in that way.
Except that isn’t what our King calls us to do.
Friends, it’s hard to even know what to write here, confined to a few hundred words every few days. I wish I could share with you in person all that God is doing. Online communication is so flat, so prone to be misconstrued or misunderstood. Sharing my heart in this space feels like trying to write a memoir on a post-it-note.
Remember that statue, the one I mentioned here, it’s coming unveiled, taking shape, and it’s massive. It changes everything. It has everything to do with the power and presence of God coming here, to earth, because of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, to actively move, convict, free, heal, save, transform. It has everything to do with the simple prayer, Your Kingdom Come.
This bit about suffering is huge. It radically changes the way we pray. Digging deep into God’s Word clearly reveals the heart and will of God. He’s shown us the Stuff Jesus Does and He’s verbally given us a clear and great Commission. Sure, He might not have told us which brand of toilet paper to buy, but He’s made His overarching will for us on earth crystal clear.
Preach the gospel and perform signs to physically demonstrate the love and power of God (Matt. 10:7, Mark 6:12-13, Luke 10:9, John 10:38). Destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). While you do that, you will suffer much persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). But the persecution will actually work to increase your hope and prove your faith and prepare for you a glorious reward in heaven (Rom 5:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:6-7, 2 Cor. 4:17).
Here is what I’m trying to say: I have taken the biblical concept of surrender and skewed it. It has slipped from surrender to resignation to fatalism, all in the name of trusting the sovereignty of God. This is a perverted view of sovereignty. God is SO sovereign that “when He redeems a situation He does it so thoroughly that it looks like He created the problem as an opportunity for His power and glory to be seen” (Bill Johnson). [bctt tweet=”When God redeems a situation He does it so thoroughly that it looks like He created the problem as an opportunity for His power and glory to be seen.” @billjohnsonBJM”]
We think that a situation was “meant to be” but in reality God is so powerful He can destroy the works of the devil and turn them on their head, redeeming them and using them for good. But He calls us to partner with Him in this. Practically, this means that we must not just resign to the evil around us, but we must believe God and press in, praying in faith for the complete redemption of every evil, for the glory of God and the furthering of His kingdom.
Get what I mean about a memoir on a post-it-note? There’s just so much to talk about here!
What does this mean for my mundane today?
- It means I will refuse to mindlessly accept all that happens as “meant to be.”
- It means I will immerse myself in the Word of God so I can better understand His heart and His will.
- It means I will pray in faith, as best as I can, for evil to be destroyed, for sin and sickness to be destroyed, for salvation and health and life to spring up, so that many will witness the power and glory of God.
- It means I won’t look at my child’s sin and say, “Oh that’s just the way she is. It’s the terrible twos.”
- It means I won’t give in to cynicism and defeat.
Getting really mundane it means I won’t give in to the entropy of my endlessly dirty house–I will reject apathy and destroy the works of the devil and scrub that toilet once again! 🙂
I will surrender my way, and my will, and take up God’s way and God’s will. And I will trust His Word to show me that good and perfect will.
Fatalism says, the future is fixed. Accept it. Faith says, God is alive, and He has graciously chosen me to be an active part of His will, in His world, to let His Kingdom come.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
{Thanks for reading.}
*This is a fictitious conversation that’s a compilation of various discussions and situations.
13 thoughts on “From Fatalism to Faith”
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Totally agree and love the quote by Bill Johnson. I wonder if people in other cultures do the same thing (is it cultural for us or just human nature)? Giving in is so much easier than choosing to fight.
I don’t know. It’s true too…so often we begin fighting, but then so much time goes by, we get so tired, it feels so discouraging. We need God’s discernment to know what’s surrendering and what’s “giving up.” Often they look and seem the same! God give us wisdom!
So excited about this! Thank you for your love and grace and boldness. — F
rom a fellow church planter’s wife/homeschooling mama in Cali on a similar journey. 🙂
Ah yay! It’s wonderful to have you along on the journey–it’s an honor to “meet” you; I pray God encourages you today!
I recall a long time ago hearing a sermon or similar on some of the differences between Christian faith and other faiths, and that fatalism was a big one. Most–if not all?–world religions are very fatalistic. We’re meant to be different! This captures that difference brilliantly!
Yes! Absolutely. I’ve never even thought about the connection before, but yes–it’s fairly obvious and important! Thanks for reading, Elisabeth.
Yes! The enemy kills, steals and destroys…and then someone says, “But God allowed it.” And we are forced to believe our all-loving God allowed killing, theft and destruction. For some, it’s hard to give up the idea that evil has power, and free will has consequences. I’m still working through it…that it’s not “God allowing.” I’m getting there, though!
Hi jb — yes, I do believe God “allows” evil, but that’s because He HAS to in order for free will to be free, and in order for the just consequences of the curse to be carried out. We all suffer for the various sins of others. I don’t think we have to dissect it, but we’re dealing with His decretive will (what He permits) and His prescriptive will (what He intends and wishes). My point is, let’s not pretend that God intended the evil “to be” — it is, but God intends for us to fight against it. Thanks for being here and engaging in this conversation!
Thank you!! And fight I will, indeed! I intend to keep searching prayerfully for peace over this issue, and I thank you for bringing further clarity.
What about when you feel you have really messed up your life,(after once believing)? Understanding what is required and yet being too weak to be in control
John, you’re not alone! NEVER is it too late to turn back to Christ in humble repentance. This is where you throw yourself at His mercy and receive His grace as a gift, then seek some counsel and accountability, fellowship and support through a Word-centered Christ-following church. Do you have a local church to whom you belong? We can’t go it alone! Please respond as you’re able…
I always find myself frustrated when people say God has closed a door and think that because their path is not easy, it is not God’s will. Esther had literal closed doors and opened them for His people’s sake.
I have come back to this post many times and the quote by Bill Johnson is the only thing that has really helped me understand God’s involvement in my life. I have experienced God making good out of bad in my life, which led me to believe that the bad had to happen for the good to happen. That always made me feel like God caused the bad in order for the good, and that sat ok with me because I made it to the other side. However, when I found out that my son would be born with a cleft lip and palate, all I could do was reject God because there was nothing good enough in this world, no lesson to make me a better person, nothing that was worth my child suffering. I realized how little I knew or understood God, but I read and studied, looked up scripture, but I couldn’t pray because I no longer knew what God did or who he was. I was even afraid that this was his way to answer something I had prayed about in the past. He was either totally powerless or something to be feared and not trusted. It was horrible. This post and Bill Johnson’s quote specifically flipped the switch in my heart and mind (bc I’m a thinker more than a feeler). So, I have no idea who Bill Johnson is. Is he an author? Also, I want to thank you for all of your posts and the way you share your questions about God in a way that helps others figure things out. Thank you!