Why is it so hard to really believe God is sovereign in every area of life? It’s easy to talk about him being in total control of everything, but to actually put belief into practice seems to be another story altogether.

Scripture is clear… take Jeremiah 29:11 for example (“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD…”)… God has planned out each one of our lives and knows each moment.

Patience is one of the products (“fruit”) of a relationship with the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:22) Numerous references in Scripture speak of “wait[ing] for the Lord”. We are also commanded to be patient… and if we really believe in God’s sovereignty, patience should come as a result because he knows the future and has it all put together. So why is it so hard to actually be patient and wait for what God intends to do? Why the need to try to take charge? I know these things… I even seem to be frequently in a position of needing to tell them to others. So the question I have to ask myself is if I know these things, why am I not living with the belief that God really has everything under control… rather than always trying to impatiently move everything along according to my own timetable? Why is it so hard to wait for the promises to come true?

Although we live in a culture that teaches us to expect to get whatever we want right when we want it, Scripture is full of examples of delayed promises — but promises nonetheless. Consider Abraham, who was promised to be a father of many nations despite having no children of his own and already being advanced in years. Numerous times he acted based on his own reason to try to help the promises along, but despite his failings God delivered — in his timing, not Abraham’s. Some of the covenantal promises were not fulfilled until the coming of Christ — over two millennia later! Many times we quote Philippians 1:6 as reassurance to those who are struggling with God’s sovereign plan for their lives. The promise of Philippians 1:6 is true — “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” — but notice that the completion of the good work isn’t an immediate thing but rather at the day of Jesus Christ! Yes, God will always keep his promises — we can rest assured of his sovereign plan — but the timing of it is not according to our impatience but rather in his wisdom.