Daily Devotional
"1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will."
Joshua 11:20 and Proverbs 21:1
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). This truth that might initially unsettle us should ultimately comfort us: God holds human hearts in His hand and turns them as He pleases to accomplish His purposes.
This doesn’t make God the author of evil or eliminate human responsibility. Instead, it reminds us that even when everything seems chaotic and out of control, God is working His plan. Even human rebellion serves His sovereign purposes.
Some of you are trying to control situations that are beyond your control. You’re attempting to manage other people’s hearts, orchestrate circumstances, and guarantee outcomes. But you weren’t designed for that kind of control. When you try to be sovereign over situations meant to be surrendered to God, anxiety and exhaustion follow.
God’s sovereignty should liberate you from the impossible burden of control. Your job is faithfulness—in prayer, in sharing the gospel, in loving difficult people, in trusting His timing. God’s job is heart-change, circumstance-orchestration, and ultimate outcome.
Today's Challenge
Where are you trying to control situations or people that should be surrendered to God's sovereignty? How might releasing control and trusting God's timing bring you peace? What would faithful surrender look like in your current circumstances?
Prayer
Lord, I confess that I've been trying to do Your job instead of trusting You to do it. I've been attempting to control hearts and circumstances that are in Your hands, not mine. Help me to surrender completely to Your sovereignty and find peace in Your perfect control. Teach me the difference between my responsibility to be faithful and Your prerogative to control outcomes. I trust that You are working Your plan even when I can't see it. In Jesus' name, Amen.
