his sovereignty.

"the sovereignty of god is the biblical teaching that all things are under god's rule and control, and that nothing happens without his direction or permission. god works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of his own will ("it's in christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. long before we first heard of christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." ephesians 1:11)
-borrowed from www.theopedia.com (emphasis mine)

god is sovereign, and we are so blessed because of it. this doesn't just mean he's got a great plan, and if we're lucky enough we'll find out what it is and get to follow it. this means everything, literally everything, goes through him first. there isn't a blessing, or any form or discipline, crisis or suffering that doesn't go through him first.

while sometimes comforting, that's also a hard pill to swallow. most christ followers (well most people for that matter) believe when they're blessed it's from god, and that's absolutely true. but as followers do we also believe that when tough stuff comes along it's from god too...and he's doing it or allowing it as "part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone"?

i'm in the middle of studying isaiah and also in the middle of a sermon series on job, and whoa, god allowed some pretty rough stuff go on. but it wasn't because he hated his people in judah or because he hated job. it was because he loved, loved, loved judah, and job (and you and me for that matter). in the case of judah god used discipline to bring his beloved people back to him, he even used war and hostile take overs to get their attention! in job's case, god used job's suffering (the suffering satan himself was allowed to bring to job) to bring himself glory.

this certainly doesn't explain the mysteries of god's awesome power and plan, but it certainly gives us greater insight into who he is. he is our father, who loves us enough to discipline us when we get off track. he is our king who deserves glory and honor for ever and ever. he is also god...he is creator...he is sovereign.

i want more than anything to look back on my journey and realize that even the times when i told god to shove it...he was there. when i told him i could do it on my own...he never left. when i was hurting from sin and separation from him...it was because he loved me enough to let me learn for myself. and when i went through growing pains...he was disciplining me.  to learn that there is nothing, nothing greater than following the most high, sovereign king.

"... i will extol you, my god, o king, and i will bless your name forever and ever."

psalm 145:1