"Why would God allow that to happen?"

Would you agree that nothing is as effective in drawing people to God as suffering? Nothing gets our attention—nothing lifts our eyes upward—quite as much. I know we hate it. If we could, we'd all vote to eradicate suffering in all its forms, but God chooses to use it.

And that's why Peter said, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7).

The first thirty-five verses of Daniel 11 contain 135 predictions from God about the future—each of which has already been fulfilled. I mention this because it highlights the sovereignty of God. I love it when the Bible shows off God's track record. Fulfilled prophecy is His trademark.

In fact, throughout the Old Testament, God often proved His sovereignty by making predictions. And each time He fulfills one, it should cause our faith to well up within us.

Every tomorrow has two handles: the handle of anxiety and the handle of faith. Most of us tend to grab the handle of anxiety. "I don't know what's going to happen!" No, you don't. But so what?

Every time God fulfills a promise He has made, it should nudge us toward that handle of faith, because the thinking person will say: "If 135 verifiable prophecies are found in just 35 verses, I believe the rest of what He says will also happen—Jesus is coming back, the kingdom age will arrive, and heaven is a real place." That's what it should make us think.

And, yet, some will say, "Yeah, I've heard these warnings for years: 'Jesus is coming. The end of the world is coming.' My grandmother used to think that, too." Well, your grandmother was right. It is coming; it is happening.

Can you come to church week after week, hear sermon after sermon, and see God's power demonstrated in His Word and remain unmoved? Because if you can, I pity you—you are witnessing such verifiable evidence of the omniscience and power of God in prophecy. It's absolutely amazing. It should cause us to bow in worship and relinquish control to the Sovereign One.

God is not sitting in heaven looking down at the earth, biting His fingernails and saying, "How am I ever going to save the world?" He has a plan. He has power. He has made proclamations and promises.

Like this promise Jesus made at the Last Supper: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

So, ignore that handle of anxiety—and reach for the handle of faith.