God is Sovereign
What does the sovereignty of God look like in the face of COVID-19? The swirling information, emotions, and opinions can easily start to close in. Everything feels out of control.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on God’s infinite control, His sovereignty.
God’s sovereignty is a cooling pool in a desert. In a desert journey, there is no end in sight. The elements are harsh and at times completely overwhelming. Suddenly, everything I need is directly in front of me. It’s an oasis, and I can step into the soothing water, feel deeply refreshed, and take a long drink. When it feels like I can’t bear another grain of sand, or another hot day, or another news cycle, I remember that I am held in the palm of His hand. I remember God’s sovereignty, and there is a stirring pool in my dry soul.
Isaiah 40 is one of the most powerful, poetic renditions of the sovereignty of God.
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12)
Of course, the answer is God. Read the verse again and take a deep breath. Reflect on how BIG God is. In regards to everything happening with the global pandemic, He is above it all and at the same time completely aware of every detail.
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)
He calls the stars by name. The dust cloud of information we wake up to every morning is not overwhelming to Him. He is intimately aware of what is happening in us, around us, and lightyears away from us.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28)
He understands infinite details about things we don’t even know exist yet. And He is not worried. More impressively, He is not tired. For those of us who feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, we have to know that God is working on it. He does not stop working on our behalf or on His eternal plan.
Finally, I want to head back to the beginning of the chapter. What is the point of reflecting on the sovereignty of God? What effect should it have on believers?
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her…” (Isaiah 40:1-2a)
His sovereignty is our comfort. The word comfort is repeated for emphasis. God is passionate about us knowing Him as sovereign because He is passionate about the comfort of our souls in distress. When COVID-19 begins to feel like a desert journey, step into this cool water – He sees all, He knows all, and He is not worried – at all.
Song Recommendation: "Gravity" by Brian and Jenn Johnson
