If God’s in His Heaven, What’s Wrong with the World?

"God's in His Heaven, 
All's right with the world."

All’s right with the world. Really? Hmmm. That’s not what I was thinking!

These familiar lines popped into my head as I was having coffee and my quiet time on the deck this morning. They are taken from a poem that was written by Robert Browning in 1841. I memorized the poem in grade school and, though most of this little ditty had escaped my memory over the years, the last 2 lines have stuck with me. 

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Pippa’s Song

by Robert Browning (1812-1889)

The year’s at the spring, 

And day’s at the morn; 

Morning’s at seven; 

The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d; 

The lark’s on the wing; 

The snail’s on the thorn; 

God’s in His heaven,

All’s right with the world!

***

Sitting in the warm sunshine this morning, coffee and my journal close at hand, my small piece of the world was looking pretty good, right side up, serene and peaceful. I could hear the sounds of summer all around me — the bird singing his little heart out somewhere in the trees to my left, and the creek murmuring through the willows. But my heart was not entirely at peace. A few minutes before coming outside I had scanned the news headlines, and what I read had troubled me. All’s right with the world? Really? If God’s in His Heaven, what’s wrong with the world?

“God, You are in Heaven, yes. This is true. And You are also here with me right now.  But what about the world, Lord? Is it really all right? Will it ever be? The news has been pretty distressing. So many of us are going through hard, excruciatingly painful trials. Floods and famines, wars and threats of war, disasters, struggles and sickness and death and all kinds of pain and loss. This world doesn’t seem right at all.”  

As I began praying and wrestling with these thoughts I picked up my journal and started to write. And as He often does, God led me to a short Bible passage which encouraged me. It’s in 1 Chronicles chapter 16, and I loosely paraphrase it below. Maybe it will encourage you too. 

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From my personal journal, Friday 7/14/23, 7:45 AM

Let the heavens be glad. 
Let the birds, and flowers, and creeks, the fields and the hills rejoice. 
May the earth, the sea and all that fills it, the field and everything in it join the chorus:
THE LORD REIGNS!
The trees of the forest will sing for joy when the LORD comes to judge the earth
To dispel the darkness with His Light, and make everything new and whole. 
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.
And His steadfast love endures forever.

(Based on 1 Chronicles 16:31-34) 

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Yes, God’s in His Heaven, but all is not right with the world. Not from our human perspective. God looks down from His throne and His heart breaks for the brokenness and suffering of the world. He loves us. He feels our pain. He sent His Son to die, to shed His blood to redeem us. And one day He is coming to make ALL things new, including us!

Today, God offers us peace, even in the chaos of this world. He is reaching out to the lost, those who are struggling to do life without God. He is giving us another day, another chance to come to Him. To find the peace and joy that can be found only in relationship with Him. His arms are outstretched. He calls us to simply come to Him. He sends the sun, the rain, the birds and butterflies, and even the storms to remind us of His presence and His love.

The Bible says that one day there will be a new heavens and a new earth. Darkness will be light, the wrong will be made right and the crooked straight. I believe this. In fact, I know it’s true. I can testify to the peace He has placed in my heart. For those of us who have placed their faith in Christ, this is our encouragement, our peace, our sure hope! May today be the day of salvation for many. For you. If you would like to know more about how to find peace with God, please click here: https://static.billygraham.org/sites/billygraham.org.uk/uploads/pro/2016/02/Printer-FriendlyStepstoPeacewithGod.pdf

God reigns!

So, in spite of troubling news headlines, this is a good morning! This is the Good News! God IS in His Heaven, and all IS right with the world. God is sovereign. His good plan will be accomplished. Christ has risen. Death has been defeated. The chaos in this world is not the end of the story!

So, sing out, birds! Remind us of our loving Father, and His care for us. Jesus is coming soon. Every day we are one day closer. Every morning He is calling the lost sheep to come to Him. Come home.

It’s a good, good morning, LORD. Thank You.

#keeplookingup #morningswithJesus