With so much discord in the world, the idea of resting in the sovereignty of God runs counter to the narrative and rancor that often surrounds us. Whether it’s a conversation around culture and politics or parenting and education, there seems to be an overall theme of fear for the future.
And during an election season — which, quite frankly, seems never-ending — it’s not uncommon to hear friends (on both sides of the political aisle) say, “I’m afraid for the future if {fill in the blank} gets elected.”
I get it; I really do. I, too, feel the weight of an America that seems to have lost its moral compass and a Christian community that seems lukewarm to the truth of God’s Word. Quite frankly, it’s hard for me to read the Old Testament and not draw frightening parallels to the nation of Israel in their failures to heed God’s authority.
But more times than I can now count, I’ve found myself repeating this phrase to myself and others: God is still on His throne. It’s an important reminder, don’t you think?
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Whether we are anticipating the outcome of an election — any election, awaiting Supreme Court rulings and legislative decisions, or simply making personal decisions about work and family, none of it is a surprise to God. He doesn’t have to adjust His plans based on the actions of His people. Thankfully, that truth applies to all trials.
God is sovereign, meaning what exactly?
Before looking at Bible verses about God’s sovereignty, it’s important first to understand the meaning of the word sovereign. After all, it’s not really a word we use all that often in the normal course of conversation.
Simple dictionary definitions of sovereign include the following: “one possessing or held to possess supreme political power,” “of the most exalted kind: supreme,” “possessed of supreme powers,” along with several others. But Merriam-Webster explains its use as an adjective this way:
Sovereign has everything to do with power. It often describes a person who has supreme power or authority, such as a king or queen. God is described as “sovereign” in a number of Bible translations. In addition to describing ones who have power, the word sovereign also often describes power: to have sovereign power is to have absolute power—that is, power that cannot be checked by anyone or anything. Nations and states are also sometimes described as “sovereign.” This means that they have power over themselves; their government is under their own control, rather than under the control of an outside authority.
So while sovereignty can be assigned to people and nations, true sovereignty — unparalleled authority and power — rests solely with our Creator.
As Chip Ingram writes at ChristianityToday.com in the article, “What Does the Phrase ‘God Is Sovereign’ Really Mean?”, a biblical definition of the sovereignty of God boils down to this: “There is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority. As King of kings and Lord of lords, God has no limitations.”
Simply stated, God is in control, not just sometimes, at all times. Not just with some things but with all things.
Is God Sovereign Over All Things
Finding true rest in God’s sovereign nature comes when we fully understand there is no boundary to His reach. His authority extends to all of creation, and that includes the circumstances of your day, as well as the outcome of the future. While some might start to bristle at that, it offers me a tremendous amount of peace.
Free will does not deny the sovereignty of God, and if you’d like to dive deeper into that topic, here’s an excellent resource about the intersection of sovereignty and free will.
However, there’s an important distinction needed; our free will does not provide us with free reign. Consequences — both good and bad — follow the choices we make, but nothing we do supersedes God’s sovereignty.
I like this explanation as it relates to our ability to choose:
Here’s how I understand the relationship of God’s sovereignty to my freedom: the Lord has chosen to give me free will so that I can choose to worship him. But he knows that freedom isn’t free if it’s determined. So he has chosen to honor the free will he gave me, to limit himself by my freedom.
Dr. Jim Denison, DenisonForum.org, “Is God in charge? Sovereignty and freedom“
For those who have placed their faith in Christ, navigating the hard stuff in life is made easier knowing that God is in control. It provides us with a place of peace. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reminds us — shows us — what it looks like to rest under the sovereign hand of a loving God.
God’s Sovereignty: Finding Peace
If you are a believer and reading these words, I hope the reminder that God is sovereign floods you with a feeling of peace. As Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) reminds us: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
As our nation struggles to navigate viruses, vitriol, civil unrest and more, as we — as a people — seem to sink deeper into the mire, I have found myself drawn back to biblical reminders that God is in control of ALL things.
Yes, thankfully, God is sovereign, but we do have a role to play. God created each of us with a unique purpose in mind; he calls us to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-16) to a world that desperately needs to hear the good news of Christ.
Because even in our despair, we can trust these words: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ “ (Lamentations 3:22-24, ESV).
I like how Joel Muddamalle from Proverbs 31 Ministries captures the role of mankind as it applies to God’s sovereign nature: “Our job: to reflect the love, goodness, grace and glory of Christ to a broken world. Everything else is in the firm and faithful hands of our loving God.”
Peace comes when we rest in God’s goodness and provision. Through a BSF study of Genesis, I was reminded of God’s sovereignty, as well as his perfect timing. My BSF study notes provided additional insight into the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, and they are worth sharing:
“God is sovereign, whether we recognize it or not. When I do not believe God is sovereign over my life, I will flounder upon waves of insecurity and indecision. Anxiety will rule over and above the peace of God. Worry and dread will overwhelm me every time I watch the news or hear about our world’s evils…I will fear the future, doubting God’s wise control. And I will exhaust myself striving unsuccessfully to control every word, every relationship, every act and every outcome in life.”
Genesis Notes, Lesson 7, pg. 3, mybsf.org
God knows our needs. He sees our struggles. More importantly, he’s at work in the details, and he’s perfectly positioned each of us for the mission field in front of us.
Stop striving, my friends, and allow “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, [to] guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, NIV).
15 Bible Verses About the Sovereignty of God
In the Old Testament and New, the sovereignty of God is on display throughout Scripture. So when we feel the creep of fear, anxiety, or uncertainty, we can meet God in his Word to be reminded of his love for us in, and through, all things.
Below are 15 Bible verses to help you to remember and rest in God’s sovereignty:
1. Ephesians 1:4
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
2. Proverbs 19: 11
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
3. Acts 5:38-39
“…For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop [them]; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
4. Proverbs 21:30
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”
5. Lamentations 3:37-40
“Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”
6. Proverbs 16:33
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
7. Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
8. Matthew 19:26
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
9. Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
10. Isaiah 46:10-11
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”
11. Colossians 1: 16-17
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
12. Acts 17: 24-28
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him though he is not far from each of us. For in him we live and move and have our being…”
13. Jeremiah 32:17
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
14. Daniel 2:21
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
15. John 1:3
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
When you click on the image below, you can download and print a free printable pdf version of the Bible verses about God’s sovereignty.
God is Sovereign. God is Good.
He is all of those things, and he is for YOU!
Through His Word, we can understand his plans, and when we pray according to God’s will, we also can hold fast to his promises.
What His will determines, His power completes.
God is in charge. He is not derailed by the plans of men or the results of an election. So when life seems chaotic and uncertain, when the culture seems to be moving farther away from biblical truth, we can rest in the security that God’s plans cannot be thwarted.
God’s nature is unchanging, and He works all things for good. Whatever circumstance you might face now or in the future, God is there, and He is for you!
Popular Books About the Sovereignty of God
Understanding the sovereignty of God can be a difficult concept to grasp. It’s often hard to reconcile a fully loving God against the backdrop of a world that seems spiraling out of control.
Below are a few reputable resources to learn more about the topic.
The Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink
The Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink (which you can find here or here) is considered a classic by many. Here’s a synopsis from Christianbook.com:
Who is actually in control of this world? Man? The devil? God?
In this unabridged, best-selling classic, The Sovereignty of God, acclaimed evangelical author and theologian, A. W. Pink tackles such profound questions in straight-forward language that the average Christian will find both understandable and engaging. Pink explains that God’s sovereignty is characterized in creation and in salvation, and then he describes its relationship to human will. Finally, Pink addresses the proper attitude believers should take toward God’s sovereignty. Ultimately, Pink strongly believed that true faith rests “not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer is included in the InterVarsity Press (IVP) Classics series. The IVP Classics are those books that “have stood the test of time, written by authors who have shaped the lives of millions” (IVPress.com).
Below is a synopsis of Packer’s classic work from Christianbook.com:
If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all?
In this new edition to the popular IVP Classics series J. I. Packer shows how both of these attitudes are false. In a careful review of the biblical evidence, he shows how a right understanding of God’s sovereignty is not so much a barrier to evangelism as an incentive and powerful support for it. With over 100,000 copies in print, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God is truly a classic that should be read by every Christian.
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper | Justin Taylor
This book addresses suffering in the context of God’s sovereignty.
Here’s a synopsis from the Desiring God website:
In the last few years, 9/11, a tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and many other tragedies have shown us that the vision of God in today’s churches in relation to evil and suffering is often frivolous. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, many Christians are choosing to become more shallow, more entertainment-oriented, and therefore irrelevant in the face of massive suffering.
In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, contributors John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot explore the many categories of God’s sovereignty as evidenced in his word. They urge readers to look to Christ, even in suffering, to find the greatest confidence, deepest comfort, and sweetest fellowship they have ever known.
Is there another you would add to this list? If so, would you please let me know? Click HERE to reach me by email.
So with that, I have one more question:
Where do you need to learn to rest in God’s sovereignty so that you can experience peace?
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