Good News At All Times: God is Sovereign

The infinitely good and intelligent God absolutely and actively governs us. We are not governed by blind chance in any miniscule way. Neither do we operate merely according to broad inanimate physical laws like an automaton. Rather, God "works all things according to the counsel of His will" Ephesians 1:11. "All things" are "for Him, of Him, and through Him" Romans 11:36. There is nothing at all that is without purpose. Rather, "to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1. Even "the hairs of your head are all numbered" Luke 12:7.

God governs nature and has a purpose for every natural occurrence (Proverbs 16:4; Revelation 4:11). He designs the snowflakes and raindrops and sends them at just the spot on the earth He wants them to fall (Job 37:6). He sends the wind to move the streams at just the time and speed He wants them to flow (Psalm 147:15-18). He commands the roaring wind to cease and the raging sea to be calm (Psalm 107:25; Matthew 8:23-27). The clouds swirl in the sky after the pattern He designs (Job 37:12). He specifies the exact course of the lightning bolts and they follow it (Job 38:25). The plants grow where and when God specifies (Jonah 4:6; Matthew 6:28-30). He commands ravens and fish and worms (1 Kings 17:2-4; Jonah 1:17; Jonah 4:7). Indeed, every higher power, angel or demon, is under His authority and ultimately does His will (1 Peter 3:22; Colossians 1:16).

God governs the affairs of nations and has a purpose in every international or national event (Psalm 103:19). He has determined the boundaries of every nation and when each one should rise and fall (Acts 17:26). He has determined who should rule those nations (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1). He controls the rulers' decision making processes (Proverbs 21:1). God directs the evil intentions of wicked nations (Isaiah 10:5-7). He blesses those nations who worship and obey Him (Psalm 33:12). He gives advantages to some that He withholds from others (Matthew 11:21). He brings, what we might call, tragedy on nations (Amos 3:6).

God governs all people and has a purpose in everything that happens to them. He "holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways" Daniel 5:23. In Him we all "live and move and have our being" Acts 17:28. He designed every circumstance of life for a good purpose (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). God has decreed all future events that we all shall face (Isaiah 46:9-10). He ultimately accomplishes His purposes for each one of us (Romans 9:11).

In fact, God does whatever He wants whenever He wants throughout the universe. "He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'what have you done?'" Daniel 4:35.

Resting in God's good and sovereign government is crucially important psychologically. "Though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea," we may "be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:2 & 10). Sometimes, life is so difficult, hurtful, and mysterious that we are liable to go insane if we do not trust that the good God is absolutely in control, having decreed from eternity past that which should or should not come to pass, and that, therefore, this difficult, hurtful mystery is good. Paul gave us a profound psychological insight in Acts 27:25 when, in the midst of a long and life-threatening storm over which no one had any control and all despaired, he exclaimed "be of good cheer: for I believe God that it shall be even as He told me." Many people are fearful or despairing because things have happened that seemingly have no purpose and they have been told that God had nothing to do with it. Many people are bitter because they have experienced hurt and they know that God did it but they do not trust that He is good. But, "the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits" Daniel 11:32.