God Is in ControlNäide

Day 1: The God Who Is in Control

The universe did not come into being by accident, and neither did your story.

“This is what the Lord says—He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—He says: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other.’” —Isaiah 45:18 (NIV)

Sometimes everything seems out of control. The natural instinct is to panic or take matters into our own hands. We ask: Why is this happening? Does God really have a plan for this chaos?

Pastor Tim Dilena once said, “When you don’t understand what’s happening, go back to the beginning.” So...

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

This verse reminds us that before anything existed, God already existed, sovereign, powerful, and purposeful.

The earth began as a formless void, but the Spirit of God hovered over it with complete control, ready to bring light into the darkness. With unparalleled precision, He placed the planets in their places, shaped the land, filled the seas, and breathed life into His creation.

Isaiah 45:18 says that God did not create the earth to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited, and Psalm 115:16 adds that the highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to men and women. From the beginning, His purpose was to create a world where people of all generations could live, flourish, and walk with Him.

Scientists speak of the "fine-tuning" of the universe. More than 60 exact conditions are necessary for life: the Earth's precise distance from the Sun, its rotation speed, the size of the Moon, the oxygen-nitrogen ratio, the thickness of the atmosphere. If even one of these conditions were slightly off, life would be impossible. This is no accident. It is the intentional work of a God who holds everything together.

In Isaiah 45, Jerusalem had been destroyed, the temple burned, and the people taken captive by Babylon. The people felt powerless, abandoned, and confused about God's plan. Three times in the chapter, amidst this chaos and great anguish, God points to His role as Creator of heaven and earth to prove that He has the power to rescue and restore them. If He could create the world from nothing, surely He could rebuild the nation from its ruins.

God used creation to remind His people, amid political turmoil, that He rules history. Even when wicked leaders like Cyrus rose to power, God made it clear: If I could create and adjust the universe, I can care for you and guide your life.

This same truth holds true today. The God who formed the world for you to live in has not lost control over the details of your story. He who aligned the stars is more than capable of aligning your steps. And because His wisdom and power are perfect, you can surely trust Him with all your heart.

So, who will you trust? Who else is like Him? Absolutely no one.

My Prayer:

Lord, thank you for creating the Earth for me to live in and for holding all things together. Help me rest in Your control when life seems unstable, trusting that You can bring order to my chaos. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Questions to Reflect:

1. What situation in your life do you need to bring back under God's control?
2. How does the fine-tuning of creation encourage your faith?