The Lord has taught me over the years to seek Him first whenever I am faced with trouble of any kind. I pour out my heart to Him. I read my Bible. And I ask Him what Scriptures and promises He wants me to pray and stand on, so I can receive His best in the situation. Many times, He will give me declarations of faith that encourage my heart and comfort my soul. Lately, He has directed me to say repeatedly, "God is in control - and He's up to something good!"

Why is it so important for us to believe that God is in control when trouble hits? Because if we don't truly believe that the Lord is in absolute control, we will suffer needlessly from fear and doubt, and we will inevitably have a wrong response to our problems. Then we will forfeit the blessings and rewards that God meant for us to reap. Scripture says, "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all." (Psalm 103:19 NASB) What we have to realize and remember is that nothing can touch our lives without God's permission. If He allows adversity, then He has a purpose for it - and it's always a good purpose. I've learned that since God is in control in every situation and circumstance, all I have to do is to get into agreement with His will and plans for me, and to follow His lead, and nothing can stop me from receiving His best. Even when others don't have good intentions for my life, I know that God does, and He will protect me if I look to Him for help. He says in His Word: "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse My actions." (Isaiah 43:13 NLT) When the Lord has a mind to work on my behalf, and I follow His lead, even the devil himself can't touch me. The apostle Paul declared, "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords." (1 Timothy 6:15 NIV) When you begin seeing our God as the mighty, awesome, all-powerful God that He is, fear, doubt, and despair will have a hard time getting a hold on you - and you will be well on your way to victory.

The Lord longs for us to believe with all our hearts that when trouble comes our way, "He is up to something good". Romans 8:28 (NASB) says: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Don't overlook the "we know" part of this promise. The apostle Paul spoke these words to the saints of his day, but they were meant for you and me, too. Paul had a strong belief in the goodness of God, and it gave him strength, courage, and comfort in the most devastating circumstances of life. When my husband, Joe, had a near-fatal heart attack several years ago, one of the things that sustained me in the hospital waiting room was a rock-solid belief in the goodness of God. I meditated on Nahum 1:7 (NIV), which says, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." This was God's reminder to me that if I would only place my trust in Him, and focus on His goodness, I would see His loving hand working on our behalf. My husband's miraculous recovery was just more proof that, not only is He a good God, but even in the toughest circumstances, He delights in displaying His goodness.

Hebrews 6:12 (AMP) tells us how we can inherit the promises of God for every area of our lives. It says we do it by our "leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness…" I'm here to tell you that you can come out on top of every situation and circumstance you encounter if you will keep your trust and confidence in God's power, wisdom, and goodness at ALL times. This attitude of faith is powerful spiritual warfare, and it will cause you to defeat the devil and his evil plans for you every single time. Don't waste another moment of your life living in fear, doubt, and uncertainty. Right now, declare with me with confidence and conviction - "God is in control, and He's up to something good!"

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I doubted Your sovereignty and Your goodness. Instill in me a solid belief that You are all-wise, all-powerful, and all-good. Help me to see You as You really are, and to act accordingly in every situation. Thank You that as I focus on Your wisdom, goodness, and power, I will walk in the confidence, courage, and victory that belong to me in Christ!