“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” Isaiah 46:9–10
Teaching a teen to drive is an unnerving process. There are so many rules for a new driver to remember, so many circumstantial decisions needing to be made instantly—all this while commanding a two-ton vehicle. And there you are, in the passenger seat with no steering wheel and no brake pedal, hurtling toward an unknown future. The lack of control is palpable. It’s a crash course in surrender (pardon the pun).
How often does surrendering to God, acknowledging His right to rule, feel just as unnerving? Often, we want to snatch the wheel or pump the brakes while believing the lie that we could rule better than the One who created it all. We so desperately vie for the throne God sits on. But we are wholly unqualified for that position, as we aren’t inherently holy, loving, just, or merciful (or the myriad other magnificent traits the Lord embodies perfectly).
In addition to what happens in our own lives, when we see the volatility in our current headlines, we have to remember God has declared the end from the beginning. He doesn’t respond to history; He authors it. God isn’t managing developments or reacting to events. He ordains and governs all things with wisdom and power. His sovereignty is in concert with His goodness, wisdom, and love, so we can trust that His rule is for our good and His glory. And what confidence that should give us!
Surrender isn’t passive. It’s a bold declaration that God is who He says He is: sovereign, good, and faithful. When we release our illusion of control, we’re not giving up—we’re giving in to the One who navigates with perfect wisdom because He knows the road ahead. Allow God’s confidence in the ultimate outcome to embolden you to face uncertainty with peace, to walk forward with courage, and to rest in the assurance that His plan is not only unfolding—it’s triumphant.
Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for Your perfect overwatch and care over Your creation and over me. Forgive me when I doubt Your ability, Your motives, Your decisions. Regardless of the chaos sin and the enemy seem to be making of everything, help me to remember that Your counsel will stand and Your purpose will be accomplished. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want more?
Read Genesis 37, 39–41. List all the ways Joseph’s story appeared to be taking a “wrong” turn. Summarize how God’s purpose was accomplished through those turns resulting in Joseph’s position of power and rescuing his family from famine. Make a list of examples from your own life of seemingly wrong turns where God was working all along for your good and His glory. Let that list be a tangible reminder for you that God has been working all along in your past and will continue to do so in your future.
