The Sovereignty of God

Last week, after finishing my lunch and paying my bill, I asked my server if there was anything I could pray about for her. She immediately teared up and said, “Yes, sir, there is so much hate and division in our families, our nation, and our world today. Honestly, I’m fearful and afraid.”

The sovereignty of God placed me there on that specific day, at that specific time, and in that specific moment to connect with that young lady. She had a need, and God used me to fill that need. If we’re truthful, we don’t fully understand why God allows so much division, hatred, and hopelessness in our world today. If we’re honest, we can’t see God’s sovereign hand at work behind it all. And the truth is, neither could Job. In Job 38, God delivers a verbal rebuke to Job about His sovereignty, leaving Job speechless. I strongly encourage you to read Job 38 and 39 for yourself—it will leave you speechless as well.

The Book of Job helps us understand the following: As a child of God, Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God’s permission. It must be sifted through the hands of God the Father and God the Son before it ever touches our lives. God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. It is beyond our human ability to fully grasp, comprehend, and understand the “whys” behind all the suffering, evil, and division in the world. The wicked will receive their just due. However, we cannot always blame suffering and sin on our lifestyles. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach, or strengthen us. However, God remains enough, and He deserves and demands our love, loyalty, submission, and praise in all circumstances of life.

The Book of Job reminds us that there is a “cosmic conflict” going on behind the scenes that we know nothing about. We can’t see it, but it exists. One of those conflicts is a relentless battle for the eternal souls of mankind. We often wonder why God allows things to happen. We question or doubt God’s goodness without seeing the full picture. However, the Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. We must trust God not only when we do not understand, but because we do not understand.

The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalms 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect” (and they are), then we can trust that whatever He does and whatever He allows is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, trust Him, and submit our will to His will, whether we understand it or not.

Trust in the sovereignty of God! He is in complete control of our world. He knows every detail of your life, and He is writing your story—don’t steal His pen.