Isa 45:7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these. (nasb)

Is there really any question who is in control of our lives? I often look at the circumstances in my life and feel like I have everything under control, and then within the blink of an eye, I realize how little I am in control of.

A close friend of mine and I were talking recently about the sovereignty of God. For me there is a real mystery between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. This verse in Isaiah speaks of the sovereignty of God. He created the light and dark. He causes good and calamity. There are two words that stand out in this verse for me today that I think require careful study and understanding. They are the words “causing” and “creating.”

Often times in our desire to make God more like us, we assume that He only allows good things to happen and we imagine His hands are tied when it comes to the bad things that occur in our life. It is as if He is wanting to help us, but we act as though He is surprised at our circumstances, and has very little that He can do. And sometimes we may even assume He isn’t trying to help at all and question whether He is even anywhere to be found at all.

After much suffering, counsel, and debating with God, Job made an amazing discovery.

Job 42:2-3 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

God is sovereign over everything. He not only causes all things to occur for our good for those called according to His purpose, (Rom 8:28-29) but He predetermines our steps (Prov 20:24) and guides us along the way.

I ask myself this question today, “Do I really believe God is sovereign over all things in my life… even the difficulties and trials?” Here are some questions I ponder as I search out this question:

• When Jesus hand picked the twelve, did he know that Judas would betray Him? (Matt 26:21-23)
• How did Jesus know that all of the disciples would scatter (Matt 26:31)
• Is anything outside of the hand of the God who is able to create the heavens and the earth? (Gen 1-2)
• Did God cause the suffering of Job, the imprisonment of Joseph, the betrayal of Jesus, and other circumstances for His glory and purpose or did He simply respond to them after they happened?

God’s sovereignty and our responsibility is not an easy thing for me to fully grasp. As I wrestle through these questions I am in awe of the Creator of the universe who works all things out according to the council of His will.

Lord, Thank you for loving me to the point of dying for my sin. Like Job, I do not understand your ways and know that you can and do all things according to your will for your glory and my good. Please guide me today as I seek you fully in all areas of my life. Amen.