(June 23, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind us that God is still in charge…

To be concerned about what’s going in our own nation let alone around the world is only natural— especially if you’re a Christian who really cares! There’s great concern over recent TV news reports about—

• The continuing Russia/Ukraine war. 
• Escalating crime among youths/kids on bail. Especially machetes incidents.
• Stolen cars/dangerous driving (one was driven through a large shopping complex).
• Deliberate vehicle smashes into shops, particularly ongoing tobacco shop ‘wars.’
• And of course the weekend’s incredible Iran/America/Israel bombing incident.

Worrying Times
Other life issues and incidents lead to preachers talking about being in ‘dark times.’ Funny but in watching Worrying Times an old WW2 movie last week, at one point prime minister Winston Churchill tells England that they are living in dark times!

And they were! And yes we are too! Dark times just prior to the Lord’s return! Of course we don’t know exactly when He will return— Jesus said only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36)! But if you’ve been reading prophet scriptures such as Ezekiah and of course Revelation, you too may be thinking that with what’s happening worldwide we are indeed closer than ever before! Interestingly after some Iranian missiles had destroyed her home and other buildings, a Jewish lady said, ‘I thought that it is the end of the world.’

So much today leads to worrying! In fact we’re all subject being troubled and anxious about this or that… which what ‘worry in scripture means. Praise God that Jesus addressed worrying in Matthew 6:25-34 with the spirit of hope and confidence gained!

He said‘… I tell you, do not worry about your life … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ’ He added how God looks after the birds of the air, the flowers and grass of the field, and takes care of us even in the matter of what to wear. Verse 34 is a great summary— ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’

Praising Times
There’s an old saying: ‘Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.’ Seems that Jesus was saying ‘Hey… get on with today, this day. Concentrate on it, deal with today without worrying!’

Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:6-8Mge is also positive– ‘Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.’

Both Jesus and Paul are talking good sense here… to rest in God regarding our ‘todays, tomorrows and dark times.’ So, in praying let’s praise God for His greatness and goodness… and believe for the best, not the worst! In trusting Jesus, we’re meant to move on in life, and not be held back by troublesome incidents whatever they be, and be about whatever kingdom business the Lord has called us to!

Ever wonder where that swear phrase ‘God Almighty’ comes from? Originally from the Bible! That’s how scripture describes God so many times… the almighty God. Abraham was ancient by our standards today— 99years old!— when ‘the Lord appeared to him and declared, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully…”’ (Genesis 17:1). Message Bible hits the nail on the head here: ‘God showed up and said to him, ‘I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt!”’ 

And that’s our God! Yes, we can enjoy living life to the hilt— if we’re really 2Corinthians 12:7-8 Him! Paul mentions the unexpected happening to him and how he learned the key to trusting his Almighty God (2Corinthians 12:7-8). After repeatedly asking God he got an unexpected response: ‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need’ (v9Mge). Wow… God even helps us get by!

Dangerous Times
But of course we’re human… and life seeks to throw us at times! We can be praising God for many things and suddenly out-of-the-blue something bad or strange happens!

Take last night’s strange occurrence for example… we had concluded our evening’s ‘before retirement praise prayers’ and were looking out on the vast night sky from our upstairs bedroom wide window for stars and possible passing planes in the distance.

Now we live opposite an extensive national gorge parkland with a grand interesting view left to right. Prior to a belt of trees is tallish grass that can have kangaroos turning up to chew and enjoy, not just in the daytime but also at night. But none last night and we turned away to ‘hit the sack’ and enjoy a good night’s rest.

I, Robert, started reading Ezekiel chapters about Israel and Persia (modern-day Iran) and, as I learned later, Maureen was meditating on one of her favourite scriptures— ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:6NKJV) and, of course, acknowledging God as she always does in everything.

Unexpectedly Maureen had suddenly noticed an unusual brightness on the windows and felt directed by the Lord to get up and check what it could be. Then she saw the source— the reflection of a long line of that gorge grass to the left on fire and heading towards those trees! Naturally it all looked very dangerous that dark night… the spreading blazing fire threating to come our way!

Maureen told me what she was seeing and I rang emergency services, calling for a fire engine and giving local details. Fortunately we have a fire station nearby and several engines arrived very promptly and the crews began extinguishing the blaze and checking the trees and nearby areas. What a spectacular view from our upstairs ‘grandstand’, even though dangerous! That unusual brightness on the windows had been a case of ‘What’s going on?’ and we praised God for His directing Maureen.

Graceful Times
But have you ever asked the Lord, ‘What’s going on?’ and didn’t get an answer… or the answer you expected? Did you ever come to the conclusion that it’s better to appreciate and enjoy the benefits God gives us daily rather than query Him about how He works things out?

Yes, sometimes God’s answer to our questions may not be what we expected, may even seem mysterious to us, but we must trust him! His answer to Paul above that His grace was sufficient was enough to carry the apostle onward and upward. In verse 10Mge of that Corinthians chapter the daring apostle declares his new attitude— ‘I just let Christ take over!’

Whether we get the answers we’re after or not— or His answers are strange and mysterious, or can’t be fully understood at the time, we too need to let God take over.

God is our almighty omniscient Lord who sees and knows everything (1John 3:20)! As such He doesn’t have to explain anything— we’re merely His followers. God always knows what the best course of action should be! Sadly so often we can get caught up with asking and expecting God to bring about the answer exactly how we ask and want.

Hopeful Times
Concerned about these dark times and reflecting on current world events, or troubled by personal matters? Be comforted by Jeremiah 29:11Mge— ‘I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out— plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.’

Paul pointed out a reality about our almighty God in Romans 11:33NLT: ‘How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!’ Isaiah 55:8NLT links here: ‘“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” The Message rendition is equally intriguing: ‘I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.’

• In short, Almighty God does things His way, not necessarily as we think, hope and expect, even when we pray most sincerely and believingly.
• He may not always answer our prayers as we expect— nor explain why so it’s always best to allow Him to work things out His way in answering our prayers or questions.
• We can be thankful that His grace is always available to all who know Christ as Saviour. So let’s live each day for Him, trusting and obeying Him in all He asks of us!

Yes… times are dark with anxiety over world events, new sicknessess, marriage troubles… and more. And sadly darkness in some churches too! Divisions, false accusations against ministers, some godly leaders losing hope after serving for many years, emphasis on financial contributions more that on soulwinning, false teachings and deceiving prophesies.

God-controlled Times
But, hallelujah… as Israel Houghton’s 2015 Our God Reigns declares:
‘Our God is in control
Steadfast, unmovable
Nothing’s impossible
Our God reigns forever.’

Looking forward to tomorrow’s news?

Better looking forward to the returning King of kings… and brighter times, not dark times!

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Dr Robert and Maureen McQuillan’s links are connectingwithyou333@gmail.com and Facebook
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