Human beings do not like to be controlled. We’re born with a tendency to resist what we’re told to do. And if we’re told we can’t have something, we immediately want it. We want to be in charge of our own lives and blaze our own trails! We want to be kings and queens in our own little kingdoms. This tendency goes all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The reality is we’re not kings or queens, and there’s very little in this world that we can control one hundred percent of the time. We’re not in charge of this universe. The One who truly is in charge is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and only He is sovereign (1 Timothy 6:15). Our God is sovereign!
There are two different Greek words in the Bible, referring to God, that translate as “sovereign” in our New Testament. One of these words is despotes, which refers to an absolute ruler.[1] The second word is dynastes, which refers to someone who is mighty or of great authority.[2] So, when the Bible describes God as sovereign, it’s saying that He is our mighty ruler who has absolute and ultimate authority over the entire universe-
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, ESV
God is our sovereign King! Everything in this universe, including us, belongs to Him. He is above all, and He is in charge of everything. Because God is sovereign and in charge, He can do whatever He wants to do-
“Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” Psalm 115:3
Our God is King over all, so He does whatever He pleases or desires (Psalm 135:6, Job 23:13). He has a sovereign plan, and He acts according to that plan (Isaiah 14:24, Acts 4:28). But we never have to worry about God’s plans or desires for us because He is a good King who is working together all things for the ultimate good of His people (Romans 8:28). Yet, even when we know that God is good and sovereign, we still try to grasp for some control in our own lives. Jen Wilkin writes about this-
“When we reach for control, we announce our belief that we, rather than an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, infinitely good God, should govern the universe.”[3]
Our sovereign King is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, and infinitely good! On the other hand, we have limited knowledge, limited power, we’re stuck in one place at one time, and we have a tendency to sin. What have we done or what can we do to give us the right to be in control? Nothing! We cannot be in control, and we cannot govern the universe. But we have a sovereign God who is good and who loves us! He is always in control, and He always has a good plan. So, we must relinquish our control of our lives and submit ourselves to the King-
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you,” 1 Peter 5:6
As you go through your life, you’ll probably be tempted to take control or take charge of certain things in your life. But you must be humble and remember that you can’t be in charge. You belong to your sovereign King, and He is ultimately in control. You may think that not being in control will cause you to become anxious, but it will actually give you relief! You were never meant to carry the burden of sovereignty and control. Submit every area of your life to your sovereign God and trust His good plans. Praise Him today-
“The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity.” Psalm 93:1-2, NIV
[1] “Lexicon :: Strong’s G1203 – despotes,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed July 8, 2021, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1203&t=ESV.
[2] “Lexicon :: Strong’s G1413 – dynastes,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed July 8, 2021, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1413&t=ESV.
[3] Jen Wilkin, None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different From Us (and why that’s a good thing) (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 148-149.
