In Christianity there seems to be a paradox between the importance of God’s sovereignty and the importance of man’s free will. Before I continue, I just want to emphasize that this will not be a treatise or a research paper or any form of academic work on the topic. I am merely giving some views about the practicality of both God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. I know people who have done great works on the subject and if you want a detailed academic work, then there are resources… this blog is not one, but I hope it is somewhat insightful.

Now to proceed…  I am learning that I can never take for granted the sovereignty of God in my life. He is so supreme and transcendent above me that to feel like my own free will somehow trumps His sovereignty is not only foolish, but dangerous. For one, God is going to accomplish what we wills to accomplish… with or without me. His work will come to an end one day and those who were not a part of His work will perish and those that were will have life everlasting. Sovereignty means that He is in total control of all affairs of life. This is somewhat puzzling to us as humans because if God is in control then why is there evil, or suffering, or anything that is contradictory to the character of God.

Well, first we have to remember that we are not God. We cannot explain everything. What we can do is realize that it was because of man’s free will that there is evil and suffering in the world; because of this, God allows those things to happen. He could at any moment remove all evil and suffering and pain from this broken world, but He has allowed it to occur because of the abuse we have made with the gift of free will. Realize that one day, God will make all things right and evil, pain, suffering, and all that is wrong with this world will be eridicated.

I have learned that there are things I don’t have in my life right now (e.g.– a wife, a house, a career, etc.) because God does not want me to have those things now, God’s blessings come in His time and not my time. God has also told me that I need to focus on my abundance and not my lack; and for that matter, who says I am lacking anything. God is sufficient and He has given me all I need and He will choose to give me more because of His sovereignty and not my own selfish motives. So I have come to rely on the sovereignty of God more than ever, it is what has brought me out of my pain and suffering and the valleys I went through not too long ago. I am trying to right some wrongs I have with my relationship with Christ, my relationships with others, and with myself. All I know is that if God knows when a sparrow falls, how much more does He know and care when I fall.

Well, He cares enough to pick me up and get me on my way– on the path with Him, embracing His sovereignty daily…