6. AND WHAT ABOUT ME?

Though we have looked generally at the impact of God’s control on humanity, we now turn to more specific references about how God exercises His sovereignty in our personal lives. We also need to consider our responsibilities as God works out His will in us.

While we have previously considered the broad implications of God’s control over all humanity, it is important now to focus more specifically on how God’s sovereignty operates in our individual lives. The way God exercises His authority and guidance becomes deeply personal, shaping our experiences and circumstances in unique ways.

As we reflect on these truths, it is equally important to acknowledge our responsibilities. God’s will is accomplished in us, but we are called to respond thoughtfully and faithfully. Our attitude, actions, and willingness to trust are essential as He works out His purposes within us. Thus, understanding both God’s sovereignty and our role provides perspective and assurance as we navigate life’s challenges and uncertainties.

It is important to remember that we have been invited by God to present our requests to Him, to ask, and to expect that we will receive what is best for us and what is His perfect will for us.

Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Take note that there are no exceptions or limitations—“every” situation means exactly that. This verse is surrounded by phrases that invite us to rejoice, relax, be at peace, think about the best things, and practice what we know is true. We are to expect that God has not abandoned us, that He will keep us from anxiety and fear, and that He will deliver peace through His very presence in our lives. Our sovereign God makes these promises. Because He is trustworthy, we can believe that He will keep those promises regardless of what He brings into our lives.

Just a few verses after he wrote these words in verse 6, Paul, who was in prison at the time, explained to his readers what he meant by “every situation.” He says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

We know that life was not easy for Paul. Amid persecution, shipwrecks, thorns in the flesh, snakebites, betrayal, arrest, beatings, death threats, hunger, no permanent home, no family, constant movement, and a multitude of other trials, he had fewer reasons than most to be content with what God sent his way.

How do you understand the connection between God’s provision for us as we face life and God’s control over the circumstances that are part of that life?

If he relied on his own strength, he knew he could easily be crushed by the multiple adverse circumstances. Because Paul understood these events and circumstances to be part of God’s will for him, he could say with assurance that God would provide whatever he needed to get through them. That is what trust is. How could we trust God to give us strength to go through what comes into our lives without the guarantee that He is in control of those events, as well as the intensity of those circumstances? How could we know for sure that He is able to provide sufficient strength if He doesn’t have a handle on what comes into our lives that will demand that strength?

Peter also understood that no believer is exempt from hard times and difficult situations. Like Paul, he knew that challenging times and circumstances were part of a great plan with a divine purpose. Because of that, he could ask the Lord for what he needed to face whatever came his way. Acts 4:24, 28-29 remind us of Peter’s prayer after his release from prison: “When they heard this [the commands from the priests and authorities to stop talking about Jesus, or else], they raised their voices together in prayer to God…They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

Prayer is one of the fortresses described in Scripture, a refuge for the believer. It proclaims our dependence on and trust in Him. We are told to bring our petitions to Jesus with the confidence that He hears and answers them according to His will. Paul believed in the power of prayer—or better yet, the power of the One to whom those prayers were addressed. We don’t always know how God will answer our prayers. We all know there are times when the answer is not what we expect. But trust demands that we believe that whatever the answer is, it will be the right answer, the one that brings the most glory to God and is of greatest benefit to those who pray, as well as to those who are the subjects of the prayer.

Do we simply pray and then do nothing? Sometimes waiting on the Lord is the best, and only, course of action. At other times, we need to move forward, taking reasonable and responsible steps in light of what we already know. Philemon 22 is one of those prayers of Paul that captures a moment when he acts on what he knows others have been praying for. This is an important aspect of our journey of trust.

Paul hopes to visit his fellow believers. But he does not presume to know what God’s will is regarding that journey. Still, he makes arrangements for the visit in the event that the answer to their requests on his behalf will be “yes.” He writes to Philemon, “And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.”

Another example of responsible action comes from an episode in David’s early years.

Saul had blown his chance to remain Israel’s king. His constant disobedience led God to choose a new candidate for the position. Yahweh sent Samuel to find David, and, according to 1 Samuel 16:13, as Israel’s designated spiritual leader, Samuel anointed the youth as the nation’s next king.

However, it would be a long time before David was crowned. But David did not sit around waiting for that crown to drop out of heaven and fall on his head! He immersed himself in the affairs of the kingdom to the extent he could. Challenging Goliath, becoming part of Saul’s household, and “getting the lay of the land” while staying close to the throne were all part of that preparation for kingship. Even after David was expelled from Saul’s presence, he didn’t go into hiding until his time came. He learned warfare and leadership at the head of his band of “merry men.” He also learned diplomacy and mercy alongside escape and evasion techniques. In fact, if he had not taken measures to escape from Saul on many occasions, his journey to the throne would have been that much more difficult. Through all these experiences, David learned the most important lesson of all: trust in God.

God is sovereign and will accomplish His purposes. He is not limited to only one way to accomplish them. But He does expect us to ACT in faith, to obey Him, and to cooperate with His plans to the extent that we know what they are. In doing so, there is blessing to be received on our part and blessings to be bestowed on others who are part of our journey. But whether we cooperate or get in the way, He will achieve His purposes. Remember Mordecai’s words to his niece, Esther. When she hesitated to go into the king’s presence to plead for her people, her uncle reminded her that if she didn’t go, another means of saving them would be found.

In what way is it possible to be presumptuous when it comes to counting on God to overrule our actions or inactions?

An interesting event in Paul’s life sheds light on God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. Acts 27 describes Paul’s journey to Italy. He was a prisoner being sent to Rome to appear before the emperor. This was his right as a Roman citizen. Winter was approaching, and the seas were treacherous. Paul warned his escorts that continuing the voyage would be dangerous and urged them not to proceed. They rejected that advice and continued. God is behind even the rejection of good advice to work out His will, and here we have yet another Biblical example. As they journeyed, a hurricane came up, and its force threatened to sink the ship. Remember what we have already seen about God’s sovereign control over the forces of nature. The sailors tried everything possible to secure the boat, even tossing the cargo overboard. Verse 20 tells us that eventually they, “…finally gave up all hope of being saved.” I assume from this that Paul was not confident that all of them would reach safe harbour. He had warned them not to go. They went and were now in danger. Did he believe that the actions of others would condemn him to a watery grave? Or did he simply wonder what God might be planning to do to rescue him from that watery grave so that he could get to Rome, just as God had promised him? The situation at this point is interesting because we know that God had already revealed to him that he would get to Rome.^[i]

But then God speaks through Paul to the passengers and crew, “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. We can assume he was afraid, or tempted to be, or the angel would not have brought up the subject. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Eventually, they neared land, but fearing being crushed by the rocks, some of the crew wanted to “jump ship” in hopes of floating to safety. Paul urged them to stay on board, as that would be the only way they would be safe. “Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.’”^[ii]

What follows in the story shows what Paul knew to be responsible behaviour. Yes, God had said that everyone on the ship would be safe. But the apostle also knew that sailors would be needed to help bring the ship safely to the island. He did not presume that God would deliver them if the sailors did not stay with the ship. He might get to Rome, but they wouldn’t unless they followed the instructions given. Trust and obey! These are the nuances of the story—details we don’t always notice.

And we can only imagine the spiritual impact this experience would have had on all those concerned. As these sailors experienced the hand of God in saving them from certain destruction, how could they not have been spiritually affected? The events that would unfold on the island after the shipwreck would also have confirmed the character and power of Paul’s God. It was not for nothing that the voyage, as frightening as it was, took place despite Paul’s good advice.

We can think back to the story of Jonah. God’s prophet refused to obey God and took ship to escape the commission he had been given. God sent a storm. He sent a big fish. The sailors on that ship were witnesses to the power of Jonah’s God. They heard his testimony and confession. They saw Jonah’s acceptance of responsibility and his actions to save them from his own folly. They could not help but be affected by the events that Jonah’s disobedience precipitated. That doesn’t excuse our disobedience, but it does remind us that a sovereign God uses even that to teach life lessons.

We find ourselves accompanying Nehemiah as he rebuilds the wall around Jerusalem. After the exile, the Jews returned to the land of promise, but that return was not without its challenges. Nehemiah knew that God had called him to that task and would fulfil the promise to restore Jerusalem. Nevertheless, when the enemy appeared, he took proper precautions to defend the wall and the workers. Nehemiah 4:7-9, 16-18 give us critical information about what Nehemiah did, showing us how we too should live responsibly under adverse circumstances. “But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat…From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the others were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armour. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side while he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.”

David, Nehemiah, and Paul took responsible actions under the circumstances. Acting responsibly did not constitute a lack of faith but rather was cooperating with the will of God in accomplishing His purposes.

Can you think of any current examples that require both trusting in the word of the Lord and taking responsible precautions?

Trusting God is not an excuse for laziness or complacency. The Bible is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that God expects us to do what we can and to act responsibly. Ecclesiastes 10:18 is one of the many proverbs written in praise of hard work: “Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.”

Proverbs 20:4 says, “Sluggards do not plough in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.”

Paul writes a lengthy passage about idleness in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 using his own tent-making practice as an example. Rather than be a burden on churches that were themselves struggling, he worked to pay his own way as he travelled for ministry. He goes so far as to warn believers to avoid those who are lazy.

Acting responsibly in cooperation with the will of God means attaining the wisdom to make the right decision. Avoiding a bad decision depends on the care we take to seek the Lord before we move forward. Joshua 9:14 tells us what the fatal flaw was for the Israelites as they began to conquer the promised land. This story also serves as another example of the importance of not simply folding our hands. We shouldn’t expect that just because we have enjoyed success in one situation, that such success precludes us from checking with Him when the next situation arises.

God had promised Canaan to the Israelites. However, the Hebrews were expected to do the work of conquering the people who lived in the land. Under Joshua’s leadership, they set out to claim what had been promised to them. Their enemies were afraid.

The Gibeonites, fearing that the Hebrews would do to them what they were doing to the other tribes in Canaan, pretended to be from a distant country to deceive Joshua and his leaders into believing they were not on Israel’s immediate “hit list.” They arrived at Joshua’s camp wearing tattered, dusty clothing and carrying mouldy bread. This was meant to convince the Israelites that their claim was true. The passage tells us, “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not enquire of the Lord.”

This was their fatal flaw. Israel’s prior success in conquering the inhabitants of the land made them cocky. We should never assume that we don’t need to seek the Lord before making decisions, particularly life-changing ones.

Proverbs has much to tell us about seeking wisdom from God. One of the best-known passages is in Proverbs 3, where the writer says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

What grief we might have avoided if we had first asked God to guide us rather than plowing ahead, perhaps making life worse for ourselves. We often leave God to untangle the threads of our bad choices as He works to accomplish His will in our lives. Some of the most ominous words in Scripture are these: “But my people would not listen to me…So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices” and Paul’s words: “Therefore God gave them over…” Does God remain in control and trustworthy in these circumstances? Yes, even when we act irresponsibly. But what grief we could have been spared if we had followed Him rather than going our own way.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

The union of prayer and preparation is beautifully illustrated in this story from 1 Chronicles 5:18-20. The Israelites were prepared to go into battle. Vast numbers of men had already been trained for that purpose. Yet their confidence was not in the preparations they had made but in the God they trusted. “The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.”

No matter what we do or how hard we work, and there is nothing wrong with making plans or working hard, we need to remember the words of the psalmist in Psalm 127:1, 2, as he writes: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Look again at the purpose behind God’s sovereign actions in our lives. The reasons for individual events may defy our understanding. But the general purpose, the “bottom line,” as it were, is hinted at in Acts 17. Paul is addressing the philosophers in Athens. They followed many gods and, not wanting to miss any that might be important, had constructed an altar to “an unknown god.” Paul was happy to introduce this “unknown” One to them.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built with human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’”

Whatever He chooses to do in the lives of individuals is meant to draw those individuals closer to Him. The story is not just about us but about God’s purposes for every living creature He has placed in a particular place, at a specific time, and under a carefully designed set of circumstances.

Can you think of an example from your own life when God orchestrated a move or event that led directly to a closer relationship between you and Him?

A section from Deuteronomy 8 in my Bible is entitled “Do not forget the Lord.” The writer advises the Israelites to remember who was responsible for everything they had been given and for everything they were about to receive as they entered the Promised Land.

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in this wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God…Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you…the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land…When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands…Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God…You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant…”

Humble…test…teach…discipline. How quickly we forget. He often has to apply these methods to remind us of whom we owe everything, right down to our next breath.

Take time right now to express your gratitude to God for His sovereignty over your life. Renew your commitment to trust Him. Ask Him to remind you when you forget.

What happens when we fail? We have already seen that God’s plans do not fall apart when we disobey, fail to act responsibly, or lack trust. Theoretically, that would give us the power to thwart God’s will, making us at least as powerful as He is. Let’s look back at Esther’s life to understand that nothing keeps God from doing what He wants to do.

The situation was dire. The Jews of Esther’s day faced execution. Esther’s uncle instructed her to go to her husband, the king, and plead on behalf of her people. At that point, he was unaware that his wife was a Jewess. Esther was reluctant. She hadn’t been called into the king’s presence for some time. If she entered without permission, she could lose her life. But her uncle told her this: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”^[iii]

There are several layers in this passage, but the key issues here are two references. The first is Mordecai’s statement of fact: If Esther doesn’t save them, God will find another way, but she will lose out. The second points back to how Esther came to be in the palace in the first place. Though we might attribute her position to a bit of “sleight-of-hand” by her uncle, we know that she would not have become the king’s wife unless God had placed her there, just as He placed Joseph in Egypt to save His people. Whatever we might imagine about the implications and evils of the selection process, this was God’s doing, even though His name is not mentioned. Mordecai guesses that Esther is God’s answer to the dilemma, as indicated in his “…who knows…” speech. The bottom line is that God’s plans will be carried out. The question for us is whether we want to be blessed by being a cooperating part of that plan. Will we settle for simply being spectators to a blessing we could have participated in if we had trusted Him and obeyed?

We will be held accountable for our disobedience, but God’s divine plan will be fulfilled.

^[i] Acts 23:11

^[ii] Acts 27:22-26, 31