As C.H. Spurgeon famously wrote, “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.” This “perfect peace” perhaps is akin to the “peace which surpasses all understanding” in Philippians 4:7. This is peace that, despite what is happening around us, we look to God in His complete control over our situation—no matter how dire—and say, “I trust you.”

The Bible is packed full with verses related to the sovereignty of God. Passage upon passage reflect on the extent to which God is sovereign over all things and, consequently, how that affects us. A wonderful example of this is from the Book of Lamentations, which declares: “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?”(Lamentations 3:37-38)

The sovereignty of God is, in many evangelical spaces, a controversial topic. But should it be? The late J.I. Packer once noted that: “Men treat God’s sovereignty as a theme for controversy, but in Scripture it is matter for worship.” I would contend, like Packer, that the sovereignty of God ought not be controversial, but an avenue of worship, of awe, of amazement.

God’s sovereignty is on display in both verses here. In verse 37, we see that nothing comes to pass unless the Lord commands it. That’s a huge statement (and, quite obviously, a biblical one)! In verse 38, people shudder. Sufferers scoff. Untimely widows become perplexed. Parents of children that have passed away are enraged.

“You’re telling me, Lord, that you’re sovereign over the good and bad?” We don’t have a problem with him being sovereign over the good—but the bad too? The miscarriages, car accidents, and cancer? The persecution, slander, and revilement? Insert your suffering—no matter the degree. He’s in control over it.

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