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Resting in God’s Sovereignty: Finding Peace in the Chaos
With so much discord in the world, the idea of resting in God’s sovereignty runs counter to the narrative and rancor that often surrounds us. In conversations leading up to the election season of 2020, and even many that followed, there seemed to be an overall theme of fear for the future. More than once I heard someone say, “I’m afraid for the future if…fill in the blank…gets elected.”
And while I, too, have strong feelings about which political platform, policies, and candidates are best for America, I found myself repeating this phrase to others: God is still on His throne. It’s an important reminder, don’t you think?
The outcome of the election was not a surprise to God. He doesn’t have to adjust His plans based on the actions of His people. And that truth applies to all trials, disappointments or uncertainties we face.
WHAT DOES SOVEREIGN MEAN?
Before looking at what the Bible says about God’s sovereignty, it’s important first to understand the meaning of the word sovereign. It’s not really a word we use all that often in the normal course of conversation. Merriam-Webster explains it 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.
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.”
