When You Really Need to Know “God’s Got It”

June 24, 2013 | 31 comments

I’ve just got to know it, way under my ribs. I’ve got to know that He’s enough.

I’ve got to believe it when I look at these lists, and this calendar, and that conflict, and these unknowns breathing hot down my neck. I’ve got to believe it on those days when I’m prone drag my worry around.

I’ve got to believe He’s enough when I’m hanging on too tight, hanging on for dear life. I’ve got to know that it’s okay to just. let. go … and know for sure that He’ll catch me.

I’ve got to know that the God who holds all time in His hands? That He will hold even me.

Friend, God really does have this.

“God’s Got It.” That’s what my favorite farmer says here, almost daily, on this farm. It’s been his mantra for as long as he’s worked those fields. His philosophy for farming has become a theology for living. God is God, and God is good, and God has actually “got it.” 

This is not just a cute catch-phrase, but an actual way to habitually remember that there is a King in Heaven who holds all things together — even when life stings.

When worry.
When cancer.
When inadequacy.
When pain.
When drought.
When storm.

That’s when He’s got it. Always.

We repeat it to ourselves, on the bad crop years, and when the diagnoses come, and when we’ve gathered in hospice rooms, and over hospital beds, and in ugly days of wild uncertainty. It’s true: What we say to ourselves, and to one another, can determine whether we will live imprisoned or free. Because dark days will come. In this world we will have trouble, but what did Jesus say? “Take heart, for I have overcome the world.”

So we tell it to each other, over and over again: God’s got it.

It’s why we return to the table of grace with the cup and the loaf. “Do this in remembrance of me,” are the words etched into the altar. We return and remember and receive and repent and repeat. God’s Got It. He has actually and miraculously overcome the world.

We believe this—

that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit, that He came to Earth, and that He died on a cross, … and that when Satan was laughing and the disciples were running scared, God actually and miraculously still had it.

– that Jesus was wrapped in a cloth and buried in a tomb, and a stone was rolled into place. And when His followers grieved and saw nothing but darkness, God still had it.

– that on the third day, in opposition to the laws of nature, Jesus rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Because — please hear me here — God most assuredly had it.

– And we believe that our King is seated at the right hand of the Father, because it’s true: Our God has still completely and mercifully “got it.”

Even in the middle of our worst days.

We may watch a bad situation turn into an impossible situation. Some of it will defy logic. From time to time, God will let us in on the reasons why. And other times? He won’t.

But He is still our Lord,
because He already sent a Savior.  

It’s as true today as it was 2,000 years ago in Calvary: Our God who had it then, has got it now, and forevermore shall have it.

{ And even I don’t get it, God has still got it. }

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
~Isaiah 55:8-9

 

A special offer for you…

When you need a reminder that God’s in control? Words written on our walls make their way straight into our hearts. Prints like the “God has it” print on our dining-room table help us to remember. And the artist, Jennifer at Studio JRU, has graciously offered a coupon for our community here. The coupon can be used for 20 percent off ANY PRINT in her shop from now through Friday.  Use the code “JDL20” at the checkout. Jennifer’s beautiful art is hope-filled and Christ-centered, and you can find it by clicking here.

 

by | June 24, 2013 | 31 comments

31 Comments

  1. Shari VandenHeuvel

    Thanks for sharing…I really needed this today! You are such a Blessing to all of us Jennifer, your words totally amaze me………………………

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Oh Shari … I wish I could have talked to you Sunday. So good to see you there. Much love to you, friend.

      Reply
  2. Eileen

    Lovely post! I just had a dream a couple of nights ago that I felt compelled to blog about. The lesson/ reminder was the same…God’s got it! No matter what we are in the midst of.

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Eileen, Did you write that post? Can you share the link with us here?

      Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Oh you, D. Your prayers this week? Appreciated so much. More than words can express. Love. You. So.

      Reply
  3. ro elliott

    Oh Jennifer…this could not have been anymore timely…so much going on around me…just this morning I was seeing a greater need to let go…I can call worry…unbelief a lot of “good” things…empathy, concern, caring…but really what I am seeing…I need to walk in more trust of His love…not just for me but for those around me…especially those who don’t know Him…and He needs to get bigger…sometimes the issues get so big that it covers who He really is and How big His loving kindness really is…I am taking that phase with me…bathing in it…rinsing and repeating…God’s got it!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      A-to-the-men! Rinse and repeast indeed, Ro. This is it: The preaching of the Gospel to ourselves, every single day.

      Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Hugs back to you, Dolores.

      Reply
  4. Jillie

    Thank you so much for this, Jennifer. I needed it today. Feeling low about a situation in my family. Feeling that I’m misunderstood. Needing God to believe in me, even when no one else does…including me. Trying hard to remember…”He’s Got It”.

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Oh Jillie… So sorry to hear about this, but glad these words can help in some way. That is the power of the Gospel. Praying tonight for you.

      Reply
  5. dewbailey

    Amen. You heart is as beautiful as your words.

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      You. Love you, friend. Thank you for your presence. It is a gift.

      Reply
  6. Amy Watson Smith

    Great piece, Jennifer. Thank you for the re-minder. Sometimes I just feel like my head and heart are like Swiss cheese and that the knowledge of God’s grace and control over everything just seeps right through the holes. I need constant re-minding, re-filling and re-cognizing:)

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      With you, Amy. Swiss cheese and all. 🙂 Do this in REMEMBRANCE, He tells us. He knows how prone to forgetfulness we are.

      Reply
  7. Linda Swanekamp

    Thank you, thank you. I am not a writer and you said exactly what was on my heart. We have to believe in the really real, not what we want to be real. Thank you.
    Linda

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      I’d say you ARE a writer. This part about the really real? Yes. You’re speaking straight to my heart, Linda.

      Reply
  8. Nancy Ruegg

    God has this–the family concerns, the hurts and regrets of the past, the uncertainties of the future, etc. Each and every situation is so small compared to our big God. Thank you, Jennifer, for your right-on reminders!

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Oh Nancy … Always so grateful for your words and encouragement here. Glad we can “do life” together online. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Caryn Christensen

    YES! I can feel my heart racing in agreement just reading your words. Thank you!

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      You are welcome, Caryn. Praise be to God! Have a blessed week.

      Reply
  10. Brenda

    Awesome and timely~yes God has this & all the ones to come~Praise God!

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      “… and all the ones to come.” Yessss and AAAA-men. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Barbie

    Sometimes I forget that I’m not walking through my difficulty and disappointment, that He’s with me, and He’s got this! Thank you!

    Reply
    • jdukeslee

      Oh Barbie … I hear you. I hear your words, deep. It can feel lonely sometimes. We need each other, to remind each other that we’re not alone.

      Reply
  12. Emily

    Thanks, I needed this today. My husband recently accepted a pastoral call in Underwood, IA. This means that I will leave my stable job and don’t have one in sight at the moment. This definitely scares me but your words were a great reminder that God has this too! I’m trusting that at just the right time he will open doors for me to do his work.

    Reply
  13. Pat

    Thanks Jennifer! So needed to hear this. I just received some disturbing news about a family situation. Needed the reminder that our God has it now and forevermore!!!

    Reply
  14. Jennifer Bush Dorhauer

    I’m here with you in this post! Through food poisoning, badly sprained fingers, and bleeding foreheads that get glued shut–God’s got it all at my house, too. 🙂 I can’t imagine living in a world where I have to carry the burden of it all myself.

    Reply
  15. Beth

    Jennifer, you encourage, inspire and so much more. THANK YOU! I needed this and you can see how many others needed to hear this. Blessings to you.

    Reply
  16. Carrie Ann

    Thanks!! I needed to be reminded of this!! I don’t know how I happened upon your blog…but I so enjoy coming here, the look and “feel” of it is so comfortable, and your posts are like talking with a friend….very positive and encouraging.

    Reply

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