GOD IS... SOVEREIGN
God is in complete control and everything happens according to his plan.
Psalms: 24, 46, 103, 145
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FACE OF INFERTILITY
After three years of marriage, we began discussing growing our family. We wanted to raise children and watch them learn and grow. After two difficult years, we had not yet been able to grow our family. During this time, I took a study where I learned about God’s character—specifically his sovereignty. In this study, Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer wrote “God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free.”
We soon came to understand what it means to surrender our plans over to God. Because God is sovereign, he could choose whether or not to allow us to have children. We quickly learned just how frail we are, and that control is an illusion. It was difficult yet freeing to understand that God is writing out every detail of our lives. Because he is such a loving God, he is all-knowing, AND he is all-powerful, there was nothing to be worried about.
We kept returning to God’s absolute freedom to decide what our family would look like. Of course we naturally wanted things our own way, but the truth is, we did not know all that God knows. And we can trust that his plans are perfect even when we don’t understand. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We mourned the inability to have children of our own, but God revealed his good character in amazing ways.
Before we met, both of us had a heart for adoption. Years later, God’s sovereign plan was being revealed to us, and we were thrilled. The neatest part of the adoption journey was how God had prepared us for it, and the adoption process stretched us to depend on God even more. Three adopted children later, all under the age of two, we are still in a season of dependence. Looking back, we are amazed at God’s sovereign plan. In those times of waiting, crying out, and uncertainty, he was helping us depend on him and learn to trust that his ways are higher than our own.
- Forge Adult Leader
PSALM 145
- Read through the entire Psalm.
- Now, read through it again and do the following:
- Circle descriptions of who God is or what he does for us.
- Underline how we are instructed to respond to God’s sovereignty.
- If there are any words you don’t know or understand, write them to the side and take a moment to define.
A psalm of praise of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
10 All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
12 They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
14 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
16 When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.
PSALM 46
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
Questions:
- Rewrite Psalm 46 in your own words. What is the author saying?
- Who does this passage say that God is?
- How is God’s sovereignty displayed in this passage?
PSALM 103
A psalm of David.
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
GUIDED PRAYER
Response to Psalm 103
Lord, thank you for this day and for meeting me in this moment. Let all that I am praise you today! I praise you for _________________________________________________________.
May I never forget all the good things you do for me. (vs 1–2) You are sovereign and reigning over my life; thank you for the many blessings you generously give each day.
I am so quick to fall into sin and fall short. Forgive me for _________________________________________________________.
You are so compassionate and merciful towards me—slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. (vs 3–8) Grant me the grace to forgive others as you have forgiven me. I pray specifically for your help to extend kindness and compassion towards __________________________________________________. (vs 4–12) Holy Spirit, breathe new life into me today. Refresh my mind, body, and spirit. You are a good and loving Father towards your children. (vs 13) I lift up my teachers and friends to you today, specifically _________________________________________________________ whom I know is struggling to believe in you. We are as weak as the dust; help me to believe that you keep your promises to those who put their trust in you. (vs 14–18)
You are sovereign over all of your creation and ruling from your throne. Even the angels praise your holy name. (vs 19) I surrender my hopes, dreams, and fears into your hands. Help me to trust in your perfect plan for my life even when it seems unclear. Give me the faith to step out in faith knowing you are always with me. Let all that I am praise the Lord! (vs 20–22)
Amen
PSALM 24
A psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude
7 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—
he is the King of glory. Interlude
Reflect
- Reflect on the imagery of God being a mighty warrior in battle. (vs 8) What current situation in your life requires you to trust God’s strength rather than your own?
- What did you learn this week about God being sovereign?
- Write in your own words what it means that God is sovereign.
For Further Study
- Psalm 96
- Ephesians 1:11
- Romans 8:28
- Colossians 1:16–17
Songs
- Great are You Lord
- Reign Above it All