Pretend you’re on an ocean liner headed from New York City to England. You and several thousand other passengers enjoy your days at sea, free to choose from dozens of activities—games, shopping, shows, sports, crafts, and more.
You can eat anytime you like, sleep whenever you feel drowsy, make friends among the other passengers or remain solitary. In other words, you make many choices during the voyage, but all the while the ship is headed towards its predetermined destination.
A.W. Tozer gave us this ocean-voyage illustration in his classic, The Knowledge of the Holy, to help us understand God’s sovereignty:
- Our all-powerful God wields total authority in the universe, just as the shipping authorities exercise sovereignty over the course of a ship.
- We’ve been given much freedom within the confines of God’s sovereignty to move about and make choices.
Now some folks take issue with God’s control. They want to direct the course of their life-ships. I for one find great comfort in the numerous, reassuring scriptures about God’s sovereignty.
For example, everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him. He is the glorious head over all, the ruler of all things (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). That includes us–those who know Jesus and belong to the family of God.
As our Heavenly Father, he provides for our needs, guides us through decisions, bestows many blessings, and more. What encouraging truth! The Almighty God of the universe is in charge of our lives as we submit to him. We don’t have to navigate alone.
The key, however, is submission. God is a gentleman and will not force himself upon us. He’s chosen to limit his sovereignty, to allow humans free choice.
Another reassuring truth: God is totally competent. We’ve all known inept leaders who couldn’t fulfill their responsibilities.
But our Ruler is supremely capable. Nothing is too hard for him (Jeremiah 32:17). As we focus on his complete sufficiency, our worries shrink in significance.
In addition, no plan of God’s can be thwarted (Job 42:2). What God says, happens.
His sovereign plan is efficient and goal-oriented. He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his perfect plan (Isaiah 25:1).
God’s sovereignty is also employed with infinite wisdom (Job 12:13). No foolish decisions come from God’s throne!
And contrary to appearances, he does maintain over-arching rule on humankind (Daniel 4:35).
Consider how circumstances must have seemed to the people of Judah as the barbaric Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C., murdered all the nobles, and took thousands of Jewish captives to Babylon.
That wasn’t an isolated case of oppression either. Good people have suffered at the hands of the wicked for eons, and it breaks our hearts. It breaks God’s heart too (Isaiah 63:10).
Our question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people doesn’t always get answered. We’re not privy to everything God knows or all the reasons behind his decisions (Romans 11:33-36).
What we do know is this: evil never wins in the end. Every evil empire of history that rose in prominence and power eventually fell in ruin. Our sovereign God knows what he’s doing.
And he will have the last word.
So when the squeaky wheels of worry, doubt, or fear begin to spin in your head, and you wonder, Who’s in Charge Here?, apply the oil of gladness, delighting in who God is—your all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, and yes, in-control God!
Take joy in the knowledge that “if God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?
And rest in thIs affirmation: “from him and through him and to him are all things” (Romans 11:36, emphasis added).
* * * * * * * * * *
Sovereign Lord of the universe, I bow in worshipful wonder of your magnificence. Your greatness shatters all boundaries! I stand in awe of your vast power and infinite wisdom, always at work in the world.
But for those times when I cannot understand your plan or your ways, help me stand in the truth of who you are.
(Revised and reblogged from February 26, 2015, while we enjoy the company of out-of-town family.)
Photo credits: http://www.commons.wikimedia.org; http://www.heartlight.org (2); http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.canva.com; http://www.dailyverses.net.
From the Inside Out 
I agree with you. I too find it comforting to know God is in control. His are the only hands that are trustworthy and safe 🙌♥️🙏
Amen to that Bridget. I’ve made enough poor choices to know that God’s ways are always best. I praise him for his absolute reliability and the dependable security he offers! I know you do too.
“I’m in charge”
“I” . . . the middle letter in Pride and the original sin that made angels demons . . . my daily awareness that “He must increase and I must decrease.”
Thanks for the needed reminder Nancy.
Be blessed sister.
Thank you, Fred. I never noticed the big “I” in the middle of pride. That one emotion is at the bottom of many sins, isn’t it! And you are so smart to stay aware each day of the wisdom behind “He must increase and I must decrease.” As we allow Jesus free reign in our lives, that’s when we experience the abundant life he offers. Thank YOU for the needed reminder!
I love the ship analogy about living within God’s sovereignty. I’ve read the book you mentioned, by Tozer, but forgot about this superb illustration. God Bless!
Isn’t that a good analogy? I loved it too when I came across it years ago. Tozer only completed the sixth grade but became an effective pastor, magazine editor, and author through self-study and prayer. His story offers much inspiration for what God can do when we submit to him!
Thank you for the great reminder of WHO is in control. Amen!
You’re welcome, Vicky. I need the reminders too. (I write these posts for myself as much as for anyone else.) Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
Great analogy! I have been thinking about Gods sovereignty this week. So thankful He is God and I am not.
That analogy of Tozer’s makes good sense to me too. / I’m with you, Beth. I wouldn’t want to be in charge either!
‘We’ve been given much freedom, within the confines of God’s sovereignty, to move about and make choices.’
I’ve always loved this truth. I can be creative and play and do my thing within the clear cut boundaries God has set up. We tend to resist boundaries or fences, but when all is said and done we know that they were for our own good … and for His glory.
Nancy, have a lovely weekend, friend …
Well said and AMEN, Linda! God is too gracious to make us puppets. Besides, relationships are impossible with puppets. He’d rather commune with us than control our every move.
The ship is a wonderful picture of our reality. Thank you.
I love Tozer’s analogy too!
AMEN
THANK YOU.
You’re welcome, my friend!
I love this illustration of the ship and choosing the activities on the ship. Great way to understand God’s sovereign and our free will. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you found the illustration meaningful, Barb!
Nancy, thank you for sharing Tozer’s wonderful analogy. God is sovereign, He makes no mistakes!
AMEN, Pam–wonderful security in those two affirmations alone!
Amen to Gods competency and trustworthiness Nancy.
Thank you, Gary. Just reviewing God’s attributes can settle our troubled spirits!
Thanks, Nancy, for writing this one about God being in control. Reminds me of the verse about making plans but remembering that God directs our steps. I have some really wonderful experiences about that, but at the time it was anything but wonderful, more like, what is going on!
Sam
Indeed, Sam. We too have seen God work out our circumstances in amazing ways as he’s directed our steps. It hasn’t always been easy and we often wondered what he was up to. But then, he’d (sometimes) reveal the end result of his orchestrations and the promise of Romans 8:28 would be proven again. In the process, we grew in our faith and character. I just read this morning, nothing is wasted in God’s kingdom. That certainly includes our experiences!
Ah, what a welcoming post this is! It gave me a sense of peace amidst the storms that are assailing us these days. Thanks so much, Nancy.
What a delight for ME to be a channel of God’s peace to you, dear Cheri. You are most welcome. I continue to marvel and praise God for his guidance and inspiration behind these posts, nearly ten years now!
The “oil of gladness” for the “squeaky wheels of worry” – love that, Nancy! Your lesson today brings me back to reading about the countless wars and battles in the Old Testament (particularly in Kings, if I recall), where it seemed the world would never become good and fruitful again. But God’s plan was established (and communicated) beforehand for a much greater timeframe, and in due time all was made right. Perhaps the many sacrifices in those battles remind us we should never think outside of our human limitations. We are but a small part of God’s grander picture.
Agreed: each of us is a small part of God’s grander picture. When we get to heaven, I have a feeling we’ll be praising him for a long time, just in celebration of the tapestry he’s woven through the centuries as one life has impacted another, who impacted yet another, and so on. I can see us beside ourselves with joy, as the full truth of Ephesians 3:20 is unfolded for us!
Nancy, this is fantastic! I so love this message. I appreciate your insights and encouragement within. Blessings.
Thank you, Paula. Praise God you found encouragement here!
Great reminder, Nancy! More of Him, less of me.
Amen, my friend!
such love and wisdom here. This line touched me today: “God is a gentleman and will not force himself upon us. He’s chosen to limit his sovereignty, to allow humans free choice.”
Sometimes I wish God had made me a puppet–without free choice! No problems with sin, misdirected actions, words poorly spoken, etc. But a puppet can’t enjoy relationship with her Maker, so not such a good idea after all!