The Editor’s Desk by Shawn McMullen

When we hear the word sovereign we think in terms of authority, control, and power. We call kings sovereigns and autonomous states sovereignties.

But even kings and countries have limitations. No earthly king has ever overruled the human lifespan. History repeatedly confirms the fleeting power of nations and the uncertainty of geographic boundaries.

There is one kind of sovereignty, however, that never changes, and that’s God’s sovereignty. He is perfectly sovereign, possessing all authority, exercising all control, and wielding all power.

Christians willingly place themselves under the authority of the sovereign God. The rest of the world lives under his authority too, whether or not they acknowledge it. For those who know little about him, living under God’s sovereignty might seem restrictive—even frightening. But those who know the sovereign God know there is no better place to be.

Several benefits come to mind when I think about living under God’s sovereignty.

Guidance. “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Psalm 73:24). I can think of no one I would rather follow than the one who leads with perfect wisdom. When I begin to feel lost and uncertain, I look to the sovereign God who holds my past, present, and future in his hands.

Protection. “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign lord comes escape from death” (Psalm 68:20). Living under the watchful care of a sovereign God, I have nothing to fear. I don’t need to fear my circumstances and I certainly don’t need to fear death, since I know I will never be separated from the sovereign God who loves me—not in life, not at the moment of death, not in eternity.

Righteousness, Peace, and Joy. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Christians don’t need to worry like unbelievers. Our sovereign God knows our needs before we ask, and he works nonstop for our benefit. Living righteously under his sovereignty leads to a peace and joy that can be found nowhere else.

Courage. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Knowing the sovereign God is with us wherever we go gives us courage to do whatever he asks.

Hope and Confidence. “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign lord, my confidence since my youth” (Psalm 71:5). Frankly, if I had to “look within myself,” to “dig deep inside” in order to find confidence for living, I’d be lost. Thankfully, Christians have an unshakeable confidence that comes from a sovereign God and leads to hope—a hope unaffected by the people and circumstances that surround us.

Boldness. “They raised their voices together in prayer to God: ‘Sovereign Lord, . . . consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness’” (Acts 4:24, 29). Even when facing hardship and persecution we can stand confidently for the cause of Christ, knowing we serve a sovereign God who “in all things . . . works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

There is no better place to be—and no better way to live—than under the authority of our sovereign God.