I remember at some point singing one of these 7-11 modern choruses (7 words, 11 times!) about God is in control. We all sing that, and perhaps we even say that in our daily walk with Christ. But do we really believe it? I have had a good dose of God’s sovereignty lately as I am struggling with some major things in my life, and it has made me stop and think about how honest I live in the light of God’s sovereignty. There is no way we can live outside of God’s active providence, but we can live our lives as practical deists in that we live out our lives with no respect to God’s active sovereignty. We trust in ourselves instead of the Almighty God. We fool ourselves into thinking we are making our own plans, doing our own thing, all the while we are governed by an all-wise, all-powerful, and sovereign King. I am reminded of the fact that God may be the Creator of the Universe, but He also cares and is intimately involved in every detail of what goes on here on Earth. Jesus in Matthew 10 states, 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. While Jesus is saying this in the context of the expectation of persecution, God’s sovereignty is written all over this, especially verse 29. God is intimately involved with every detail that happens or doesn’t happen to anything and anybody.
There are many other verses that have come to mind about the sovereignty of God. Psalm 115:3 states Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. After all of the wrangling, Job 38 – 42 is a necessary read for those of us who somehow try and live our lives apart from the sovereignty of God. This one section alone brought tears to eyes, repentance to my heart, and submission on my knees. Another section that the Lord brought to mind is Lamentations 3, 37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Anyone who doubts for a moment the complete all-encompassing reign of God must seriously wrestle with these texts, as well as many others.
While the sovereignty of God is clearly a fact, it is also a huge comfort. After all, shouldn’t we, shouldn’t I, rest assured in the fact that nothing on this earth happens outside of the providence of God? How can I claim one minute that a calamity against an enemy of mine is God-ordained, and a calamity against a friend or mine is caused by Satan? Evangelicals do this every day! Honestly, how can I reconcile those ideas with the Scriptures? I can’t, and that is a good thing. What the Bible teaches is that there is nothing that happens outside of the control of God. Satan doesn’t hatch some plan in the back room somewhere and slip one past God. This just doesn’t happen! This is a huge comfort, because just as God will not let one sparrow fall from the sky apart from Him, so too, doesn’t He care for His children more than the sparrows? How humbling is that? How comforting is that?
With all of the major stuff going on in my life, I was beginning to lose sight of the sovereignty of God and, as human beings typically do, attempt to take control of my own life and live as if there was no God. I professed the belief in the sovereignty of God, but acted otherwise. Through the ministry of the Word, other brothers and sisters in Christ, podcasts from favorite pastors, and books, God has brought me to my knees, where I should be. As I was listening to a message from Arturo Azurdia, God used this wonderful man to break my spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit I am now putting my focus on the King of Glory instead of my circumstances.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:10-11
