Resting in God’s Sovereignty Is Personal

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word sovereignty? Often, whenever people hear about the sovereignty of God, they think of it as rigid, like a huge iron vice holding everything in a tight grip.

But that’s not accurate. God’s sovereignty never tramples on the free will of man. Yes, man is free, but God is sovereign. There is no incompatibility between divine sovereignty and human will. (Baxter, J. Sidlow, Majesty: The God You Should Know, p26)

What does the sovereignty of God mean? It means that God possesses all power and is ruler of all things. Look at the word sovereignty. What word do you see in the middle of it? Reign. To say that God is sovereign is to say that God reigns.

Let me ask you this: Who rules over a kingdom? A king. Right? So, when we talk about God being sovereign, we’re talking about God being King. In fact, the word kingdom refers to royal power or dominion.

It’s one thing to know that God is sovereign; it’s another thing to rest in his sovereignty. It comes down to perspective.

If anyone understood perspective, it was the apostle Paul. While sitting in a Roman prison, we hear him say in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.”

Here’s a secret we all should know: the secret of being content! The key is found in verse 13: “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” That verse tells us contentment starts from within and then works its way out. In other words, contentment is an inside job. The secret to contentment is not a what; it’s a who. Jesus is the secret.

Through Jesus, we can rest in God’s sovereignty.

Listen to those words again: “I have learned to be content” (v. 11, emphasis added). Resting in God’s sovereignty is personal. In the Greek language, the word translated “I” is written as a strong emphatic. In other words, the emphasis in this verse is on the word “I.” “I have learned” (emphasis added). Resting in God’s sovereignty is something we must learn for ourselves. It is personal. Nobody can learn it for you except you.

Are you resting in God’s sovereignty today? There’s not a more peaceful place to live than in his sovereignty. It will be a great day in your life when you learn that resting in God’s sovereignty will liberate your life.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, teach me to rest in your sovereignty. In Jesus’s name, amen.