Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

I believe the very essence of sin is that we want to be God and have full control. The serpent in Genesis never denies the existence of God but rather leads Eve to question God’s will and authority. Humans love control—myself included.

I am currently coaching a 6U All-Stars baseball team. In many ways, it's like your vehicle stalling on railroad tracks in the middle of a desert town with no residents, and the doors are locked from the outside. You could be trapped in there for an hour, a day, or even a week. Best-case scenario: you find a bologna sandwich in the back seat to sustain you. You have no control. But one thing is for certain—the train is coming eventually.

From 6U to 37U, I’ve found that you can coach them for 25 hours a day, but when the game starts, you have no control over what happens. You can have a shortstop who’s a ball vacuum outfitted with a cannon for an arm, but if he’s working on his lizard calls and lets a ball zoom right between his legs, there’s absolutely nothing you can do—except maybe book a guided lizard hunt and invite him on the trip.

Control.

We love it.

We fear an existence where we are not in control.

Proverbs 16:33 reads, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” In other words, the cards are dealt, and every hand is decided by God. There are no events that take place outside of His rule and purpose.

Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:29-30)

In Jonah, God commands a fish to swallow a man, a plant to grow for shade, and a worm to kill the plant. From natural disasters to weather, from disease to disability to death—He controls it all.

He is sovereign.

While we may not understand His plans or His timing, one thing we can know is this: He is in complete control—from a tiny bird to matters of life and death.

Let us, therefore, stand in awe and be at peace, knowing that nothing is outside of God’s wise, good purposes and perfect control.

Read and reflect on Psalms 90 and the following poem.

“His law He enforces; the stars in their courses
The sun in its orbit obediently shines;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine.”
— “Let All Things Now Living,” Katherine Davis

Take a few moments to reflect on God’s all-knowing and righteous nature.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

Prayer: 

God, let us find peace and comfort knowing You hung the moon and stars. You know the hairs on our heads and work all things for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose. We love You. Amen.