A God We Can Control

Scripture:

“‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ … Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.” – Acts 17:28-29

Think:

Not far from where Paul stood was one of the ancient world’s greatest masterpieces—the statue of Athena inside the Parthenon. It stood nearly forty feet tall and was covered in ivory and more than a ton of gold. Remarkably, the gold could be removed and used by Athens during a financial emergency. 

Think about that: their goddess looked powerful, but people had built her, dressed her, and could strip away her glory whenever they needed it.

Then Paul declared that the true God is nothing like her.

He cannot be shaped by human hands, confined inside a temple, or used to secure the life we want. He does not exist for us.

We exist in Him.

We may not bow before golden statues, but we still prefer a God we can manage. We want a God who forgives our sins but does not confront them. A God who comforts us without correcting us. A God who blesses our plans, agrees with our opinions, and remains quietly available until life becomes difficult.

And when the real God does not behave like the one we created, we become disappointed.

He does not answer when we expected. He closes a door we were sure He would open. He asks us to forgive someone who is not sorry, release something we desperately want, or trust Him without an explanation.

Suddenly, God no longer looks like the picture we formed in our minds.

But a god who never disagrees with you is not God. It is simply a reflection of you.

Paul says, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” The God we are trying to reshape is the One sustaining us while we question Him. The hands attempting to control Him are being held together by Him.

Jesus did not fit anyone’s expectations. He was a King born in a stable, a Savior wearing a crown of thorns, and a victorious Messiah who conquered by laying down His life. He was nothing like the Savior people had designed—and exactly the Savior they needed.

Perhaps God’s refusal to meet your expectations is not evidence that He has failed you.

Perhaps He is tearing down a version of Himself that was far too small to save you.

Let Him.

The God you can control can never carry you. But the God you surrender to will hold you through everything you cannot control.

Application:

Where has God failed to fit the picture you created of Him? Instead of reshaping Him to match your expectations, surrender your expectations and ask Him to reveal Himself as He truly is.

Prayer:

God, forgive me for wanting a version of You I can understand and control. Tear down every false image I have created. When You do not look like I expected, help me trust that You are still exactly who I need. Amen.