The Harmony of God's Sovereignty and Love

“Were there ever one datum of knowledge, however small, unknown to God, His rule would break down at that point. To be Lord over all creation, He must possess all knowledge. And were God lacking one infinitesimal modicum of power, that lack would end His reign and undo His kingdom; that one stray atom or power would belong to someone else and God would be a limited ruler and hence not sovereign.” -A.W. Tozer

The sovereignty of God means that God is the supreme authority and all things are under His control. Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines God’s sovereignty as His “absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure.”

God is usually conceived by us as being omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere), and omnibenevolent (all good) in His eternal existence.

A simple way for us to think about God is:

• He is above all things.
• He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things (Revelation 21:6).
• He is present everywhere so everyone can know Him.

God created all things and holds all thing together, both in heaven and earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).

But I would be remiss to speak of our Lord’s power and authority over all things apart from His perfect love for us. When Jesus said, “‘Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me (John 18:11)?’” He knew both the hand that gave Him that cup and the heart of perfect love His Father had for Him.

Therefore, we can trust God when He says He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and that He is with us always (Matthew 28:20). And we can obediently respond to the commands to rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16) and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Yes, I know it’s painful to feel thankful in the midst of pain or suffering. When I struggle with painful emotions, broken plans, hurtful relationships, I must remember to focus not on the spoonful of bitter medicine but on the loving heart of my sovereign, Heavenly Father, knowing that everything works together for our good (Romans 8:28), even when everything is not good.

Jesus trusted the Father with the agony of the cross. His obedience and trust in the hand and heart of God the Father will lead to the eventual fulfillment of every knee bowing and tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).