In a world filled with tragedy, triumph, mystery, and miracle, one of the most difficult yet essential questions for any believer to wrestle with is this: Is God really behind everything that happens? The simple but deeply theological answer is: Yes. God is either the cause of, or He allows, all that happens — in our lives, in history, and throughout the universe.
This truth is rooted in the nature of God as sovereign — a term that means supreme ruler and ultimate authority. Yet, alongside His sovereignty is the gift of free will that God has given to humanity. These truths may seem paradoxical, but they are not contradictory. Instead, they help us understand how a perfect God governs a world filled with both beauty and brokenness.
God Is Sovereign — Nothing Is Outside His Control
To say God is sovereign is to say that nothing escapes His notice, nothing surprises Him, and nothing happens apart from His permission or purpose.
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:8–9
Even the things we don’t understand or would never choose — God can use them, redeem them, or even ordain them for a greater purpose. His sovereignty does not make Him distant or robotic. It assures us that His plans are always higher, always better, and always wrapped in wisdom beyond our comprehension.
God Causes Some Things — and Allows Others
It’s important to distinguish between what God causes and what He allows.
God caused:
- The creation of the universe (Genesis 1)
- The resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:24)
- The pouring out of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33)
God allowed:
- Job’s suffering (Job 1–2)
- Joseph’s betrayal and imprisonment (Genesis 37–50)
- The crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of wicked men (Acts 2:23)
He is not the author of sin (James 1:13), but He does allow people to choose sin — and He holds them accountable for it. This leads us into the next essential truth.
We Have Free Will — and We Are Accountable
Though God is sovereign, He created us with the capacity to choose. He does not force our obedience; instead, He invites it. We are not puppets — we are image-bearers with responsibility.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life…” — Deuteronomy 30:19
Every action, every word, and every choice we make carries weight.
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” — Matthew 12:36–37
God Holds Us Accountable
Even though God may allow or use evil actions for good (as in the case of Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery), the people involved are still held accountable for their choices.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” — 2 Corinthians 5:10
“Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” — Revelation 20:15
This reinforces that while God is always in control, He is not to blame for our sinful choices. His justice is perfect, and His grace is available, but our actions are our own.
The Mystery of God’s Will
There are many things we won’t understand on this side of eternity. Scripture is honest about that.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” — Deuteronomy 29:29
We don’t always get to know the “why” behind suffering or chaos, but we do know the “Who” — the God who sees, loves, saves, and redeems.
So How Do We Respond?
1. Trust God’s Sovereignty
Even when life feels out of control, God isn’t wringing His hands in panic. Nothing surprises Him. He is working even in the waiting, even in the hurting, and even in the silence.
2. Take Responsibility for Your Choices
Don’t use God’s sovereignty as a reason to shrug off responsibility. We will all give an account, and our free will is a stewardship we must use wisely.
3. Choose Life Daily
Just as Deuteronomy 30:19–20 urges, choose to love God, obey His voice, and hold fast to Him. These are not passive responses — they’re acts of faith that honor both God’s rule and your role.
4. Reject the Lie That God is to Blame for Evil
We live in a fallen world, full of people exercising sinful choices. God doesn’t cause the evil — but He can use it for good. Blaming Him for what humans have done is not just misguided; it’s dishonoring.
5. Rest in God’s Perfect Judgment and Mercy
You don’t have to make sense of every hard situation. God will judge rightly. He will right every wrong. And for those who are in Christ, mercy triumphs over judgment.
So, is God really behind everything that happens?
Yes — in that He is always sovereign, always in control, always just, and always working out His purposes. Sometimes He causes events directly. Other times He allows them. But nothing is outside His sight, and nothing is beyond His redemptive reach.
This truth isn’t meant to cause fear. It’s meant to produce peace. The God who holds the stars in place also holds your heart and your future.
When the world feels uncertain, lean into the One who is unshakable. He is writing a bigger story than we can see — and His pen never slips!