Everything Is…
A long time ago, I was told to avoid words like “never” and “always” as much as possible. Certainly, there are times when those words are appropriate and right, but much of the time we use them in cases where they are not true. (In premarital and marital counseling, I have often told couples to avoid these words, especially when arguing.)
Another word like that is “everything.” In recent years, there has been a trend on social media to share a picture or short video that is cute, funny, or reassuring and leave the comment, “This is everything.” First of all, that’s crazy, because it is obviously not “everything,” but it also cheapens the meaning of the word.
Still, to use that word is something that is not new. Let me illustrate.
Is anyone old enough to remember when Ray Stevens sang at least one song that was not silly or satirical? He sang a beautiful and hopeful song with the title, “Everything is Beautiful.” He then went on to list dozens of things in the song that have a certain type of beauty in their own way. It was a beautiful sentiment, but, let’s be honest. Not everything is beautiful! Sin isn’t. Heartbreak isn’t. Divorce isn’t. So, while that’s a great song, it’s not true.
Or, how about this: in the last handful of years, as we have seen a yawning gap in our society, we often hear this phrase: “Everything is political.” It may seem that way, especially when people make political statements about things such as a chicken sandwich to the type of car you choose to drive. But is everything political? No. We know it simply is not true.
My point in this article is not to run down a pretty song or a pithy saying. Instead, it is to illustrate how those statements, catchy as they might be, are not fully accurate. Not everything is beautiful and not everything is political.
However, there is one time we can use the word “everything” and it will be absolutely certainly true. There are zero exceptions. While it may not seem to be true to some people, it is true in every single case across the world and through all times in world history. It really is an “always” statement. It really is a time where using “everything” is appropriate. And, knowing that, it should give us great comfort and encouragement.
What is it?
“Everything is in God’s control.”
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
