God is In Control

“Heaven rules.”
Daniel 4:26 (NIV)

Many of you have been so kind to ask about James Bruce's status with regard to residential placement at Rainbow Omega, a Christian group home for adults with intellectual disabilities. I can't count the number of times I've been asked, "What about James Bruce? Have you heard anything about Rainbow Omega?" Our answer at this point is, "No, we haven't heard anything yet." The longer answer includes the caveat that just as we haven't heard he's in, we also haven't heard that he is out of the mix for one of the four upcoming residential slots. Bruce believes that as long as we don't hear James Bruce is out, the possibility remains that he is still in the mix for consideration.

All of this means we wait and pray, pray and wait, trusting God to open doors that need to be opened and closing ones that need to be closed. And yes, it's hard waiting for this Type A, driven, push until you get it done, Special Needs Mama. Looking back over James Bruce's 35 year life, however, I've realized that God has always provided every single thing we've needed. Most of the time, however, it wasn't one minute before we needed it. Someone once quipped that God is an "on time" God, never late, but seldom early. I second that observation!

Late Wednesday afternoon I was driving down Panorama Drive on my way home from an errand. James Bruce was in his usual place in the back seat. I was deep in my own thoughts actually stewing and brewing with frustration over the residential process and the hard discipline of patiently waiting. All of a sudden James Bruce began singing an old Twila Paris song from the 80s. It's not unusual for him to sing, but the words of this song and James Bruce's timing and delivery caught my attention as I heard the words:

God is in control   
We believe that His children will not be forsaken   
God is in control   
We will choose to remember and never be shaken 
 There is no power above or beside Him, we know   
God is in control

Needless to say, Paris' God is in Control lyrics weren't lost on me and I started laughing at James Bruce's timing and God's sense of humor. At that moment, I needed to be reminded that God is indeed in control; that His children will never be forsaken; and that I need to chose to remember His sovereignty. It just so happened that I was scheduled to teach the next morning from Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” All things means ALL Things. That certainly includes residential placement and Rainbow Omega. 

What is true for us is also true for you. God IS in control. God is FOR us, not against us. And if God is for us, then who can be against us? This doesn't mean, of course, that James Bruce is guaranteed a Rainbow Omega slot. It does mean, however, that if God wants James Bruce there, He can get him there. And if He doesn't want him there, Bruce and I don't want him there either. We can trust God to work for our good in ALL things. The waiting is still hard and we need your prayers, not just for James Bruce's potential placement, but also for our patience and God’s grace in waiting.

Thanks to each one of you for your prayers of our behalf. Please know that we are grateful for each one.