He Who Is Able

God may be a God who intervenes, but is He really able to help us with the problems we face? The answer may seem obvious, but when we are in trouble or simply look at the troubles of the world, we can ask this. We can ask if God is somehow unable to deal with things. Of maybe if God is just not interested. Or if He is too busy running the universe to care. Now there is a serious mystery here. But I do not think the solution is to limit God's ability.

God is able to do anything (Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:25,26; Luke 1:37). Now this does not mean God can do things contrary to His own nature (Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; James 1:13). Therefore, questions such as, "Can God make an object so big He cannot lift it?" are meaningless. But God is not limited by simple lack of ability. He also knows all things (Psalms 139:1-4; 1 John 3:20; Hebrews 4:13), including all the minor details (Matthew 10:29,30; 6:8; Isaiah 44:28). And that means He is not so busy administering the universe that He has no time for us. Also, He is everywhere (Psalms 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23,24; Acts 17:27,28), and He is particularly present with those who are His people (Matthew 28:20; 18:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

But if we trust Jesus as our Savior (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5; Philippians 3:9) and God is in control of the world (Ephesians 1:11; Romans  8:28, Isaiah 43:13), why do we not always get what we want (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; James 4:3: Luke 22:41,42)? Simply making God unable to accomplish this does not help. It merely causes us to ask who it is that is bigger than God from whom these things come. Rather, God has a plan to use even suffering to accomplish His will. Sometimes this plan involves purposes that go beyond what we happen to want. God can use suffering to help people grow into the people they should be (2 Corinthians 4:17,18; James 1:2-4; Romans 8:29) or to allow individuals  to help others through their suffering (Mark 10:45; Colossians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7). How God deals with a world in rebellion against His will is often complicated and mysterious. We need to trust in Him even if we do not necessarily see His purpose in every event (Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 37:3-6; 46:10). But the issue is not a lack of power or a lack of concern.