Theology & Life

The Bible is packed full with verses related to the sovereignty of God. Passage upon passage reflect on the extent to which God is sovereign over all things and, consequently, how that affects us. A wonderful example of this is from the Book of Lamentations, which declares: “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?”(Lamentations 3:37-38)

The sovereignty of God is, in many evangelical spaces, a controversial topic. But should it be? The late J.I. Packer once noted that: “Men treat God’s sovereignty as a theme for controversy, but in Scripture it is matter for worship.” I would contend, like Packer, that the sovereignty of God ought not be controversial, but an avenue of worship, of awe, of amazement.

God’s sovereignty is on display in both verses here. In verse 37, we see that nothing comes to pass unless the Lord commands it. That’s a huge statement (and, quite obviously, a biblical one)! In verse 38, people shudder. Sufferers scoff. Untimely widows become perplexed. Parents of children that have passed away are enraged.

“You’re telling me, Lord, that you’re sovereign over the good and bad?” We don’t have a problem with him being sovereign over the good—but the bad too? The miscarriages, car accidents, and cancer? The persecution, slander, and revilement? Insert your suffering—no matter the degree. He’s in control over it.

On this subject, the late Jerry Bridges wrote,

Is God sovereign only in the “good” circumstances of our lives? Is He not also sovereign in the difficult times, the times when our hearts ache with pain?

God is in control of the good and bad in your life. Him being sovereign over the tragedies doesn’t mean He’s unloving. It doesn’t mean He doesn’t care. It doesn’t suggest He’s power-hungry. It’s actually the opposite.

We must remember that He uses our suffering. “It is from the mouth of the Most High” that your suffering comes. Perhaps that’s tough for you to read. I understand. Might I suggest praying? God being in control of the good and bad is what we need most. We fear we can’t have comfort and solace if God is in control of the bad, but do we think we’d have any hope if He wasn’t?

Perhaps this causes you to ask “Why?” If God is sovereign over all things, why does He allow, permit, or even cause bad things to befall His children? This question misses one key aspect of the sovereignty of God over our lives. What it misses, of course, is the notion that God uses the bad in our lives for His good and our glory.

This is something to consider if you’re struggling. If you’re hurting, if you’re mourning, if you’re barely afloat — God knows you. He cares for you. Yes, your suffering, in whatever form, came from Him. He will use it to make you more like His Son (Rom. 8:29). Trust Him in the good and bad.

The sovereignty of God shouldn’t be controversial. To the Christian who has truly embraced this doctrine—even amidst mysteries and occasional confusion—it is a sweet solace, a balm to the soul. As C.H. Spurgeon famously wrote, “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.”

This “perfect peace” perhaps is akin to the “peace which surpasses all understanding” in Philippians 4:7. This is peace that, despite what is happening around us, we look to God in His complete control over our situation—no matter how dire—and say, “I trust you.”

That’s the end goal, believer. To be able to confidently trust in the Lord no matter the pain, no mater the triumph, no matter the difficulty. If we believe in the sovereignty of God over all things—including human decisions (perhaps that’s another blog for another day)—then we should be able to trust Him at the end of the day.