I learned from an early age the importance of resting in the sovereignty of God and then surrendering to the sovereignty of God. Resting in God’s sovereignty—that’s the trust part—and then surrendering to God’s sovereignty—that’s the obey part.
Our family had a high view of God. Most of us today have a high view of self. What matters most to us is our feelings, our thoughts, our ambitions, our plans, our ideas, and our opinions. But what should matter supremely is, “What does God think? What matters to God? What is His opinion?”
You see, my mom taught us that God is sovereign, which is a sophisticated way for saying He’s the Boss! He is in control. He is the supreme Ruler of heaven and earth.
Joy comes when we acknowledge that He is Lord, when we trust His sovereignty and surrender to it. That means that God has the right to give and He has the right to take away.
During my college years, I saw my mom respond to a series of difficult circumstances in a way that profoundly impacted my life. Over the next several years, my mom dealt with a divorce that was unfair. I saw a stay-at-home mom have to enter the work force to make ends meet. About the same time period, my mother went through life-threatening surgery to have breast cancer removed.
Through it all, I watched my mom rest in God’s sovereignty; I saw her be as calm and peaceful and devoted to Christ in that season of loss and pain as he had been in previous seasons of gain and ease. She modeled a quiet confidence that God knows what He’s doing, that He is all-wise and doesn’t make mistakes. That is the time period I came to believe at the core of my being that every event in our lives is being watched over by a wise, loving, and good God who really can be trusted.
I love that verse in Psalm 135 that says, “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps” (vv. 5–6).
You see, God is in control. Whatever He pleases, He does. And if He does it, it’s because it pleases Him. We need to come to the place where we say, “Lord, if it pleases You, it pleases me. If it’s what You want, it’s what I want.”
Through my mom’s example and now through many years of personal experience, I’ve learned that we will never be more secure, more safe, more happy, and more satisfied, than when we are trusting and obeying.
What circumstances is God asking you to accept as coming from His sovereign hand? Would you take a moment to verbalize or write out a brief prayer in your journal or Bible expressing your desire to “trust and obey”? Blessings on the journey.