“These are the times that try men’s souls…” the well-known words of poet Thomas Payne came to mind as I drove to the grocery store yesterday in my fearless quest to acquire the rare jewel of toilet paper. Never in my short lifetime has the world faced such so much uncertainty. The hopelessness, despair, and frustration everywhere are palpable. In surreal times like these, we are vividly reminded that we live in a broken world that has been “subjected to futility” (Ro.8:20… and the whole book of Ecclesiastes!). The grim realities of darkness, however, shouldn’t surprise us. The Scriptures consistently present pain and suffering not as aberrations, but norms of life in a fallen world. The Bible also makes it clear that God’s people are not immune to this suffering. But in seasons of suffering, we have hope. Our hope is not some kind of wishful thinking that things will magically get better. Our hope is rooted in the bedrock, Bible-based truth that our God is sovereign and is orchestrating all of the events in our lives to accomplish His wise, good, and gracious purposes.
Defining God’s Sovereignty
God’s sovereignty refers to God’s supreme position and absolute power as the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler over creation. The Scriptures state that He is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (I Tim.6:15). As God, He has complete and final authority over everyone and everything. John Piper notes, “There are no limits to God’s rule. This is part of what it means to be God. He is sovereign over the whole world, and everything that happens in it. He is never helpless, never frustrated, never at a loss.” The Bible declares that our sovereign God has a determined plan and purpose for the world which no man can in any way alter (Job 42:1; Isa. 14:24-27). He will accomplish all that He has planned (Isa. 46:11) because He has the right and power to do so.
The Extent of God’s Sovereignty
In times of suffering, uncertainty, and apparent chaos, it’s comforting to remember the nature and extent of God’s sovereign reign.
Sovereign over the nations. Isaiah 40:15-17 states, “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.” When the nations rage and seek to exalt themselves as supreme, our God “sits in the heavens and laughs” at their futile attempts to thwart His unalterable purposes. Nations will rise and fall. But God’s reign is forever.
Sovereign over authorities. Romans 13:1 reminds us that “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” I think we all know from experience how frustrating it can be when those in positions of power make decisions that seem foolish to us. It’s tempting to think that our wellbeing rests in the hands of incompetent people. God, however, rules over rulers and even uses their folly to accomplish His good purposes (ex. consider God’s words to Pharaoh in Ex.9:16). Ultimately, even “the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Pr.21:1).
Sovereign over all. Our God works “all things” according to the counsel of His will (Eph.1:11). As a wise teacher once noted, “All means all, and that’s all that all means.” Nothing – absolutely nothing – going on in our lives is in any way outside of God’s sovereign control.
Now, it’s one thing to know and even affirm the truths about God’s all-encompassing sovereignty, but do we truly believe it? If so, then why do we so often find ourselves struggling with worry, doubt, fear, or anger?
The Goodness of God’s Sovereignty
Sadly, our confessional theology is often divorced from our functional theology in times of darkness. We say that God is sovereign, but when things aren’t going according to plan, we begin doubting the goodness of God’s sovereignty. The truth is, as fallen, sinful creatures, we want control. We believe that we know what’s best. We want to have the final say over the events, circumstances, and outcomes of our lives. The lie that tempted Adam and Even to doubt God’s goodness, chose autonomy, and rebel against God’s reign is the lie that we often succumb to when things seem to be spiraling out of control.
The truth about God’s sovereignty will be a comfort to us when we remember that His sovereign rule works in perfect harmony with His boundless wisdom, goodness, and love. In his helpful book, Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, Jerry Bridges notes, “That which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.” In our uncertainty, we can turn to the certainty of Romans 8:28-39 and experience afresh the peace, joy, and hope that comes resting in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.
Responding to God’s Sovereignty
The truths God has revealed about Himself in the Scriptures were meant to drive us to worship. When we think specifically about the truth of God’s sovereignty, worship should be expressed in at least three ways:
#1. Repentant submission. One of the most profound statements in all of the Bible on the sovereignty of God was ironically made by King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:34-35. This proud, pagan king who basked in the glow of his own power and glory had to be humbled by God in order to learn just how powerless he truly was (see Dan.4:28-37). He responded to God’s display of sovereignty in repentant submission and was gloriously changed! “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (v.37).
The truth is, there’s a little bit of the spirit of the proud Nebuchadnezzar in all of us. We’re tempted to take credit for what only God’s grace can accomplish. We make plans as if we had control over tomorrow (see James 4:13-15). We forget just how fragile and finite we really are. Like Nebuchadnezzar, the truths of God’s sovereignty should drive us afresh to repentance, submission, and worship as we acknowledge God’s lordship over all of life.
#2. Fearless obedience. Daniel states that those who truly know their God “shall be strong, and do exploits.” Knowing that God is sovereign over our health, our future, and every trial that we might face liberates us to pursue fearless obedience to Christ in a world racked by fears and worries.
#3. Hopeful trust. One of the great examples of this hopeful trust can be found in the life of missionary William Carey. It was confidence in the sovereign power of God that kept him plodding for the gospel’s advance amid daunting obstacles. Carey once noted, “When I left England, my hope of India’s conversion was very strong; but amongst so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His Word is true. Though the superstitions of the heathen were a thousand times stronger than they are, and the example of the Europeans a thousand times worse; though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith, fixed on the sure Word, would rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause will triumph.”
Yes, these are the times that try men’s souls. But these are not times to fall prey to despair. Our God reigns! May we all be able to echo the words of the prophet Habakkuk as we take heart in the glories of God’s sovereignty:
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
