Remember God’s Sovereignty — Part 2

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
— Matthew 10:29–31, CSB

Nothing happens that hasn’t first been filtered through God’s ultimate plan and purpose. He retains complete control and authority over every circumstance. On one hand, this truth lifts the anxious burden of trying to control what is beyond our reach. On the other, it can be a hard pill to swallow when wrestling with tragedy. It doesn’t always feel like help. But if it were not true, we could not trust Him—no matter how loving or powerful He is.

Author Jerry Bridges illustrates it well (Trusting God):

If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God’s sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him. You may entrust to me your most valuable possessions. I may love you and my aim to honor your trust may be sincere, but if I do not have the power or ability to guard your valuables, you cannot truly entrust them to me.

Because God loves us and holds complete authority, we can entrust all things to Him. His perfect wisdom and love assure us, even when we don’t understand. Like Charles Spurgeon once said, “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night.” Resting in this knowledge helps us to trust, even when it hurts.

God’s sovereignty does not mean our choices don’t matter. The tension between our free will and God’s sovereignty is a divine mystery: We are responsible for our actions but cannot control the outcomes. Obedience is our responsibility; results are His. As Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us.” Instead, we can pray in confident trust, knowing that He works—not despite our circumstances—but through them.

Verses for Further Reflection:

📖 Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

📖 Job 42:2 — “I know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted.”

📖 Isaiah 26:3 — “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Reflection Question:
If God’s sovereignty is like a soft, comforting pillow on which we can rest our heads, do you find it to be true in your own life? If not, what might you need to surrender to rest in that truth?

Closing Prayer:

Lord, thank You that Your sovereignty and unchanging character are the reason I can trust You when I cannot see the purpose. You are never caught off guard, never powerless, never unloving. When fear rises or uncertainty surrounds me, help me remember that You rule over all and care for me deeply. Remind me that Your sovereign rule and steadfast love are a refuge. Teach me to rest in You as on the softest pillow, confident that every detail of my life is in Your wise and loving arms. Amen.