The God Who Reigns
Reflecting on the Sovereignty of God
We’ve been walking through the attributes of God in Sunday School, and in many ways, everything we’ve covered so far has been leading to our most recent lesson: the sovereignty of God. His omniscience, His omnipresence, His eternality, His immutability—all of these attributes single Him out not only as capable of ruling, but as uniquely qualified to rule. I read once that “The most right and logical place for God to inhabit is a throne.”
Sovereignty Defined
Scripture, theology, and even common language all point us in the same direction. Sovereignty speaks of supremacy, absoluteness, and ultimate authority. The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus uses words like supreme, absolute, unlimited, ultimate, self-governing, autonomous. In the Greek New Testament, the concept of sovereignty is tied to power. A.W. Tozer calls God’s sovereignty “the attribute by which He rules His entire creation.”
The Westminster Confession says it with characteristic clarity:
WCF 2.2: “God is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and has most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases.”
A contrast helps too. God’s omnipotence tells us there are no limits on His ability to act. His sovereignty tells us there are no limits on His authority to act. He rules infinitely, freely, and perfectly.
“Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases” (Psalm 115:3).
“None can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34–35).
Why Does God Have the Right to Rule?
God’s authority over us does not begin with our guilt as sinners, nor even with our gratitude as the redeemed. God’s kingship is His natural right as our Creator. We owe Him allegiance because He authored our existence.
Job 38 reminds us that God alone laid the foundations of the earth while the morning stars sang. Isaiah 45 grounds His exclusive deity in His creative power: “I form light and create darkness… I the LORD have created it.” Psalm 24 proclaims, “The earth is the LORD’s… for he has founded it.”
Implications: When We Reach for God’s Throne
When we talk about God’s sovereign rule, one glaring truth appears: our sinful desire to have that rule for ourselves. We want control.
We grasp for control of time— overscheduling, refusing rest, living as though productivity is our savior, or believing everything depends on our efficiency.
We grasp for control of our children—parenting by fear instead of faith, overprotecting or overpressuring them, trying to shape every outcome rather than pointing and entrusting them to God.
We grasp for control of our reputation—carefully curating how others see us, reacting defensively to criticism, or being unable to confess weakness or failure.
We grasp for control of circumstances—trying to arrange life so that discomfort or inconvenience is minimized, clinging to routines or preferences as if they were ultimate.
We grasp for control through worry—anxiety becomes a way of pretending we can manage life by mentally rehearsing every danger or difficulty.
James 4 warns us that we do not control tomorrow. Romans 9 reminds us that clay does not question the potter. First Chronicles 29 proclaims that everything—riches, honor, power, strength—belongs to the God who rules over all.
God is in control. Not us.
And that truth, rather than crushing us, comforts us.
Comfort from God’s Sovereignty
1. We can rest.
Nothing happens by chance; every day of our lives is written in His book (Psalm 139:16).
WCF 5.1 reminds us that God “upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, actions, and things” by His wise providence.
2. We can face suffering with hope.
Our affliction is “light” and “momentary” because God is preparing “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Job confesses, “No purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
3. We can trust that evil will not triumph.
Revelation 11:15 declares that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord.”
Psalm 97:1 calls the whole earth to rejoice under God’s reign.
4. We can be humble and thankful.
Everything we have is received, not earned. “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)
5. We can pray with confidence.
Philippians 4 tells us to bring everything to God. Not anxiously. Gratefully. And His peace will guard our hearts and minds.