Whatever We Are Doing Is Part of God’s Sovereign Will

 Whatever We Are Doing Is Part of God’s Sovereign Will

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Key Texts:
“But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” — Psalm 115:3 (NKJV)
“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” — Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)

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Introduction: The Reign of the Sovereign God

The doctrine of God’s sovereignty stands at the very heart of biblical theology. Scripture consistently affirms that God reigns supremely over all creation—history, nations, individuals, and even the unseen spiritual realm. Psalm 115:3 declares without ambiguity that God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. Proverbs 19:21 complements this truth by acknowledging human planning while asserting that it is ultimately the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Together, these texts establish a theological framework in which all human activity unfolds under God’s sovereign will.

God’s Sovereignty Defined

God’s sovereignty means that He possesses absolute authority, freedom, and power to accomplish His purposes without external constraint. Unlike human rulers, whose authority is limited and often contested, God’s rule is uncontested and eternal. He does not react to circumstances; rather, circumstances unfold within His eternal decree. To say that God “does whatever He pleases” is not to suggest arbitrariness, but perfect wisdom, righteousness, and consistency with His holy nature.

Human Plans and Divine Purpose

Proverbs 19:21 acknowledges a fundamental reality of human existence: we plan. Planning is not sinful; it is part of human responsibility and stewardship. However, Scripture is clear that human plans are not ultimate. The Lord’s purpose prevails. This verse does not negate human agency but places it within a higher divine framework. Our choices are real, our intentions meaningful, yet God’s sovereign will encompasses and transcends them.

This theological tension—between human responsibility and divine sovereignty—does not call for resolution through reductionism but for humble submission. God’s will is not threatened by human decision-making; rather, human decisions are mysteriously woven into the fulfillment of God’s eternal purposes.

Whatever We Are Doing: Within God’s Sovereign Will

To affirm that “whatever we are doing is part of God’s sovereign will” is to recognize that nothing occurs outside God’s knowledge, permission, or ultimate purpose. This does not mean that God morally approves of all human actions. Scripture clearly distinguishes between God’s sovereign (or decretive) will and His moral (or revealed) will. Human sin does not escape God’s sovereignty, yet God remains holy and not the author of evil.

Biblical history testifies to this truth. Joseph could say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). The crucifixion of Christ—humanity’s greatest injustice—occurred “by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). Thus, even actions rooted in rebellion can be sovereignly redirected to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

The doctrine of God’s sovereignty offers profound comfort and stability. In times of uncertainty, suffering, or apparent chaos, believers can rest in the assurance that God is neither absent nor overwhelmed. Our lives are not random sequences of events but chapters in a divinely authored narrative.

At the same time, God’s sovereignty calls us to humility and obedience. Since His purposes will prevail, wisdom lies not in resisting God’s will but in aligning ourselves with it through prayer, discernment, and faithful living. Trust in God’s sovereignty does not produce passivity; it produces confidence, perseverance, and hope.

Conclusion: Trusting the God Who Reigns

Psalm 115:3 and Proverbs 19:21 together invite us to a deeper trust in the God who reigns from heaven and whose purposes never fail. While we plan, labor, and make decisions, we do so under the sovereign hand of a God whose will is perfect and whose purposes are unstoppable. Whatever we are doing—whether we fully understand it or not—exists within the scope of God’s sovereign will. The call of Scripture, therefore, is clear: trust Him, submit to Him, and find peace in the certainty that the Lord reigns.

— Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute