An Example of Sovereignty: Microcosm and Macrocosm

The Lord is really trying to sink this lesson of His sovereignty into my spirit. I literally can’t get away from it. Even common issues are revealing His sovereignty, and I want to share one of those with you. This is a nothing issue and more like an object lesson for the microcosm so that I will see the macrocosm.

Sovereignty in the Microcosm

This living parable is about my swimming at the gym. I go to the pool 3 or 4 times a week to swim. I enjoy the 45-minute drive to and from the pool as well as the time in the pool. Quite often the Lord will give me my posts while I am swimming or on the journey to and from the pool. It’s a sacred time for me.

Recently I have been having issues at the pool with another person. To describe this briefly, I like to swim next to the wall in the far lane. I seek this lane every time because it helps me just to face a wall as I swim rather than witnessing the cacophony of flailing arms and legs. The wall just gives me an opportunity to focus.

Swimming in Sovereignty

For the last few weeks the pool has been jam packed with people. In this case you just take whatever lane is available or share one. It has been several times now that I have gone in and found the pool full and just as I start to get in the last available lane, this guy will run ahead of me and throw his stuff in. It makes me want to drop kick him in the face. He fully sees me and knows what he’s doing, he practically has to push me aside to do this. And each time I end up backing off and waiting for another lane.

Anyway this is how this experience relates to God’s sovereignty. Every time this gentleman has pole-vaulted himself into the pool in front of me, it has given me the opportunity to shortly thereafter get my desired lane next to the wall. It was like the Lord was thrusting His hand in my way and saying, “Wait, I have something better for you.” Now I have to be honest. Each time I have still had to work through forgiving this guy. As I said, a roundhouse kick to his head would have been cathartic. But knowing God is using it to show me sovereignty is huge. Plus without this man I wouldn’t have this amazing revelation.

Sovereign Move of Sovereignty

How many things in life are actually just like this example? How often does God’s plan include my inconvenience for my benefit? Just how many of my apparent diversions are just God’s loving hand positioning me into His purpose? This takes great faith, because in the moment it might just seem like some jerk trying to cheat you. And in this I always have to remember, “Blessed is he who is not offended in Me” (Mt. 11:6). God’s sovereignty will almost never equate my uncontested ease.

Sovereignty is all about faith! It is a complete trust in the Father and His ability to lead us through every circumstance. Quite often it might appear hopeless, offensive, or just a waste of time but trusting in God will lead me to the experience of His Life and His divine purpose. And if I had stayed in the Tree of Knowledge about this pool deal, judging good and evil, I would have missed God’s personal care of me in the seemingly little thing. I don’t want to miss Him or His plans, so I am learning to embrace, more and more, the ways of God. While it might be challenging, it is a grand adventure!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 ESV

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 ESV

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19 ESV