Resting in God’s Sovereignty—The Heart Attitude of Faith
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where nothing seems to be going your way? Maybe your plans are unraveling, circumstances feel out of control, and the familiar reaction of your flesh kicks in—frustration, fear, or even doubt. You’re not alone. I’ve noticed this tendency in myself too. When life doesn’t cooperate with my expectations, my flesh resists.
But today’s Abide Above devotional offers a powerful reminder: when we think things are out of control, our real struggle isn’t with the circumstances—it’s with unbelief. It’s a sobering truth: unbelief hinders our cooperation with God and keeps us from resting in His sovereign, loving control.
Let’s explore how faith shapes our attitude, even when life feels chaotic, and why resting in God’s reign is the key to glorifying Him in all circumstances.
The Sovereign Father—Still in Control
Revelation 19:6 declares:
"Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
What an anchor for our souls. The Lord reigns—not partially, not temporarily, but fully and eternally. He has not surrendered control over your life to chance, chaos, or the enemy. Even when things appear to be spinning wildly out of control, God is reigning, and His purposes are being fulfilled.
This was Joseph’s story. Thrown into a pit, sold as a slave, falsely accused, and imprisoned—he had every reason to think things were spiraling out of control. And yet, Joseph didn’t react with unbelief or bitterness. He chose to trust God’s sovereign hand, even when he couldn’t see the outcome.
As the devotional says:
"Joseph gave God the cooperation which He requires for the fulfillment of His purpose… It does not necessarily entail an understanding of the procedure of things, but it certainly cannot be given unless we are absolutely convinced of the Father’s supreme control over all."
Unbelief: The Greatest Hindrance
This is where the devotional hits home:
"The man who imagines that things have got out of the Father’s hands… is the man who is not in a position to give the Father the required cooperation in it all. This is unbelief."
Unbelief distorts our perspective. It makes us doubt God’s goodness and question His control. When we fall into this trap, we resist His purposes instead of resting in them. Our cooperation—our heart attitude of faith—is blocked because we’re fighting against the very circumstances God is using to shape us.
Do we believe God reigns when plans fall apart?
Do we trust His purpose when trials come unexpectedly?
Do we rest in His faithfulness, or do we fret and strive for control?
This isn’t about passivity—it’s about surrender. It’s about choosing to glorify the Father right where we are, without demanding to be moved somewhere else. As T. Austin-Sparks writes:
"This cooperation is a matter of heart-attitude… not fretting or praying to be moved somewhere else."
Faith in the Fiery Trial
The reality is, God often uses the storms of life to demonstrate His power and shape us into the image of Christ. W.T. reminds us:
"The strength of the vessel can be demonstrated only by the hurricane, and the power of the Gospel can be fully shown only when the believer is subjected to some fiery trial."
God doesn’t just allow difficult circumstances—He uses them. In His hands, trials become tools:
To test and strengthen our faith (1 Peter 1:7).
To display His sufficiency and grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).
To teach us songs in the night (Job 35:10).
When we trust Him in the storm, our faith becomes a testimony of His reign. The world sees a God who gives peace when circumstances say we should have none, joy when the night feels long, and steadfast hope when everything else seems to fail.
The Heart Attitude of Rest
So how do we “give the Father the required cooperation” that He desires? How do we develop the heart-attitude of faith when our flesh wants to resist?
Remember Who God Is
“The Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Rev. 19:6).
Remind yourself daily that God is sovereign, all-powerful, and loving. Nothing touches your life apart from His purpose.
Rest in His Faithfulness
Joseph couldn’t see the full picture, but he trusted the One who could. You don’t need all the answers—you just need to know that God is faithful.
Refuse to Fret or Resist
A heart of faith doesn’t demand that circumstances change. Instead, it rests and rejoices in God’s sufficiency right where He has placed us.
Glorify Him in All Things
Choose to worship in the storm. Praise Him for His sovereignty, even when you don’t understand. As Revelation 19:7 encourages us:
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him.”
Conclusion: Songs in the Night
When life feels out of control, we face a choice: will we react with unbelief, or will we rest in faith? The circumstances may not make sense to us, but God is never caught off guard. He reigns, He sees, and He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
As W.T. wrote:
"If the Father would make manifest the fact that ‘He giveth songs in the night,’ He must first make it night."
If you’re in the night right now, trust Him. Rest in His reign. He is not only in control—He is with you in it all. Give Him your cooperation, your faith, and your praise.
Reflection Question:
Are you resisting or resting in God’s control today? What would it look like for you to glorify Him where you are, right now?
Closing Thought:
"Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Revelation 19:6).
May this truth anchor your heart, calm your fears, and inspire you to rest in His unshakable reign.