Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Matthew 28:18 (NIV)
ALL AUTHORITY — TRUSTING IN JESUS’ POWER
There’s something remarkable about the way God weaves moments together with such intention that it can’t possibly be coincidence. A certain message, a Scripture passage, a conversation—lined up so specifically that it feels like it was handpicked just for you.
For many, the phrase “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” might sound like a theological statement—true and powerful, but somehow distant. It’s one of those verses we’ve heard enough times to nod in agreement without really stopping to ask: What does that mean for my actual, everyday life?
But this verse from Matthew 28 hits differently when life feels out of your control.
For those walking through a difficult diagnosis, an extended season of caregiving, or the heavy grief of loss…
For those who have stepped away from a career they once loved or are living with limitations they never expected…
For anyone who has had to release the life they thought they’d be living—this verse becomes less of a concept and more of a lifeline.
Over the past several months, I’ve been walking through a season of chronic illness—a slow, exhausting wilderness that has stretched longer than I ever anticipated. It’s challenged everything I thought I understood about control, strength, and trust.
In the past, I could push through hard things. I could power my way out of discomfort with determination. But now, my days often begin and end with physical limitations I can’t “will” my way out of. I’ve grieved the version of myself who once operated with energy, ease, and independence—and I’ve had to ask: If You, Jesus, have all authority, why this? Why now? Why still?
And yet—this slow surrender is reshaping me. In the stripping away of what I once relied on, I’m being drawn closer to the One who truly holds my life in His hands. My grip is loosening. My dependency is growing. I’m learning—however reluctantly at times—that trusting His authority means trusting His timing, His pace, and even His silence.
There are seasons when trials come like waves—brief and forceful, but eventually passing. And then there are seasons when it feels like the waves never stop, when the storm isn’t just a moment but a new reality. In those places, trusting that Jesus holds all authority becomes more than a Sunday school answer—it becomes the foundation we cling to when nothing else feels stable.
Many of us know what it’s like to say we trust God’s authority while still quietly gripping tightly to our own plans and expectations. But prolonged struggle often reveals just how much we’ve been relying on ourselves. And in the unraveling, we’re invited into a deeper dependence—not a defeated one, but a holy one.
There’s beauty in that kind of surrender. Because when we’re no longer striving to manage everything, we’re finally free to sit at Jesus’ feet—open-handed, open-hearted, and ready to be filled. Sometimes, the most faithful thing we can do is simply show up in His presence—not with a to-do list, but with a quiet willingness to be led.
This isn’t the version of discipleship many of us imagined. It’s slower. It’s more dependent. It’s quieter. But it’s real. And it’s holy.
Because if we’re to be disciples who make disciples, we must first be people who know what it is to trust Jesus fully—not just with our salvation, but with our suffering. With our unknowns. With our today.
Prayer:
Jesus, help me not just to believe You have all authority, but to trust You with the parts of my life I can’t control. In the places where I feel powerless, remind me of Your power. In the waiting, be my peace. In the letting go, be my guide.
Reflect:
Minda Seagraves has been married to her best friend, Russell, for 17 years and is mom to Carson and Maddie. She is also a full-time missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a chaplain to local female high school teams and supports 380 staff across four states in the U.S. and 20 countries in East Africa as the Regional Director of Talent Advancement with FCA. Minda and her family live in Acworth and have been attending NorthStar Church since 2020.
