When "God Is in Control" Isn't Enough
Here in the UK, I woke up this morning to the historic news that Donald Trump is on the verge of becoming the 47th President of the United States. As I scrolled through social media, a flood of intense reactions filled my feed. But one phrase - or variations of it - kept catching my attention: "We don’t need to worry - God is in control". It’s a phrase I've seen countless times, often offered as a source of comfort in troubling or turbulent moments. But as I read it again today, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this well-intentioned reassurance may, at least in some cases, bypass the complex and urgent realities before us - realities that call for thoughtful and active engagement.
The Problem with Spiritual Platitudes
What do we really mean when we say, "God is in control"? Are we suggesting that every event in the world - even tragic, evil, or unjust ones - is precisely as God intended, and therefore we just need to passively accept it? This can feel like an easy escape from the hard questions and complexities of our world - a spiritual platitude which shields us from wrestling with uncomfortable realities.
In Christian theology, God's sovereignty is actually much more deeply nuanced. Yes, we affirm that God holds ultimate authority, but we also recognise human agency, responsibility, and the far-reaching impact of our choices. Therefore, rather than a simple, fatalistic statement about God being in control, God’s sovereignty invites us to engage with life actively and responsibly, not to passively accept all outcomes as unchangeable.
Sovereignty vs. Control: A Key Distinction
There’s a big difference between saying “God is sovereign” and “God controls every outcome”. The Bible presents a God who, while sovereign, gives humans the freedom to choose. God isn’t a puppet-master over every decision or event, and this means that bad things can and do happen - things that can deeply hurt and grieve us.
Think about it: if everything is already perfectly aligned with God’s will, why would Jesus teach us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? If God meticulously controlled every outcome, why would Scripture repeatedly call us to pursue justice, show mercy, or strive to bring about God’s kingdom on earth? These calls to prayer and action show that God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from responsibility; instead, it invites us to partner with Him in the ongoing work of restoration and reconciliation. While not everything that happens may align with God’s will, His sovereignty means He can work through - and sometimes in spite of - human actions to bring about His greater purposes.
The Call to Active Faith
Though perhaps comforting, relying solely on “God is in control” as a response to challenges or bad news can lead to a dangerous moral passivity. History offers us valuable lessons here: when some Christians remained silent during the civil rights struggles in the United States, for example, they too might have found temporary comfort in the belief that “God is in control”. But the gospel calls us to far more than a passive acceptance of injustice. The God who is sovereign over all creation also calls us to pursue justice, to stand with the marginalised, to speak truth to power, and to work for the common good. Faith demands that we actively engage with the world’s brokenness to be agents of change. God’s sovereignty should cause us to act, knowing that we are part of His work in bringing healing and justice to the world; it should challenges us to see our faith as a call to action, not an excuse to disengage.
Partnering with God
Faith isn’t simply about finding comfort in the thought that "God is in control" but about hearing an invitation to join in the work of justice, reconciliation, and renewal. When we truly recognise God's sovereignty, the question we ask ourselves is, “How can I partner with God’s work here and now?”. The answer lies in becoming His hands and feet in a divided world that urgently needs peace and justice.
Our world once again finds itself under shadows of darkness, division, and despair; with wars, political unrest, and pressing ethical challenges, the need for God’s guidance, compassion, and intervention feels urgent. God is inviting us into a faith that listens deeply, acts courageously, and seeks the good of others, striving to bring a little bit more of heaven to earth in all that we pray, say, and do. Rather than settling for spiritual platitudes, let’s commit to a faith that is bold, engaged, and active - working together to help shape a more compassionate and just world. Let’s not merely be passive spectators of history; let our belief in God’s sovereignty empower us as engaged participants in shaping it.