From Fatalism to Faith

“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.

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.

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 reject overwhelm, that throw-your-hands-up mentality that breeds hopelessness and despair.
• 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.}

*Originally from March 2015, seeing glorious answers to prayer in this area! God does move, let’s pray and not give up!