I want to take a day here to dig deeper into the sovereignty of God.  Most all of us, I would say, would profess that God is Lord and sovereign.  I would also say that most of us struggle with understanding just what that means and finding joy in it. 

If we’re honest, there are some things about God that are very difficult to bear.  For example, trying to grapple with the goodness of God amidst the loss of life in a natural disaster while knowing that God was always in control.  The “Why’s” of life can suffocate us.  Why did my parents divorce, why did my friend die, why did my spouse commit adultery, why did I not get that job or promotion, why does my child have cancer, and on and on.  Many people want to “get God off the hook” by saying that he was caught by surprise at these things, but we know that isn’t true from the Bible.  All things are held within His power, and in Him we live and move and have our being.  He is sovereign over all.

Here is where all of us, as fallen, prideful sinners struggle:  Life is not about us.  We want to make it that way, and in doing so we have only revealed our sin, that we would rather be God than worship God.  Life is not about you.  Your life is not your own.  Can you really take that in?  I admit that there is enough sin left in me, that it is a struggle.  Personally, this is a daily focus of prayer and a continual area of my own sanctification.  “God, will you put to death in me my desire for self-exaltation through work, health, friends, family, and even church that I would know more of the surpassing worth of Your glory in Jesus Christ?”  Can you truly empty yourself of feelings of entitlement?  Can you experience loss and say with Job, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)  Or do you still find yourself judging God in discontentment, feeling that He owes you something?

We were made by God, but we are separate from Him.  Likewise we have a will that is directed by God, but it is separate from Him.  (Prov 16:9)  God made us for a purpose, and His purpose is Good.  God is working all things for His glory, and that is good news to those of us who have been reconciled to Him through Christ.  It is the very glory of God that is our treasure in Heaven.  We will know Him, and enjoy Him infinitely forever.  Therefore, whatever is done for the glory of God is to the good of believers, even when that means we or others suffer.  It is not for us to look into a situation, and sit in judgment of its “goodness”.  Only God who sees His purpose and how all things are working together throughout all time can know what is truly good. 

We are exhorted by God through 1 Peter 4:13,19 – “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ”  “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

As believers we are encouraged through Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

So where does this leave us?  Does that mean that God is uncaring about our personal circumstances?  Certainly not.  The sovereignty of God that brings with it suffering, is also the very grounding of our comfort and joy.  When you suffer, you are comforted by a God who has Himself suffered on the cross.  He is intimately aware of the pains of betrayal through Judas, denial by friends through Peter, abandonment by everyone when He was put on trial, physical agony on the cross and His beatings before.  The good news of God’s sovereignty is that the same God that brings into our lives pain and suffering, is using those things for His and our ultimate good, and He is all-powerful to comfort us and use means of grace (like the Church) to do so.  Jesus Himself wept, and we are told there is a time for all things in Ecclesiastes 3. 
 
So I’ve worked somewhat backwards here.  I’ve tried to give an overview of the sovereignty of God first, and now I’m going to say why.  There are two reasons.  First, I want us to know that the answer to the question of “Why does evil/suffering exist” ultimately is that in some way it results in the greater glory of God, that His righteousness would be made known through His wrath poured out on sin.  Evil exists because God wanted it to, for His glory.  That does not make God evil, because His purpose in it is Good – for His glory.  Likewise it does not excuse those who do evil for being that way, because their motives are sinful.  So I wanted to answer honestly that Theological question.  Secondly, I want to press this truth deeply into the hearts of believers, because it will kill pride, and draw you closer to God, our joy.  There is nothing about you or your circumstances that has not been purposed by God.  My hope is that your response will not be to judge God for what you perceive are “wrongs” done to you by Him, but that you endure and grow in your sanctification through good works amidst trials.  Never try to comfort someone experiencing loss by saying that it was all part of God’s plan… that isn’t helpful.  But root this truth into your own heart now, so that when suffering and evil comes, you may be fully comforted by a sovereign God. 
 
Grace and Peace,
Adam