The Serenity of Sovereignty

“It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him…

“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them… 

“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread,.. they prepared the Passover. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.., one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!’

“And they went to a place called Gethsemane…  And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.’ And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’… ‘It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.’

“And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders… And they laid hands on him and seized him… And they led Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together… seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death.” Mark 14:1,10,12,16-18,20-21,32-36,41,-43,46,53,55

Two worlds juxtaposed: the serenity of Jesus knowing all that would come, and the plotting, conniving, and vitriolic churning of men who would destroy Him. Jesus moved with peace and assuredness as He faced the trials, deception, suffering, and crucifixion, looking with joy to the resurrection. But man was restless, antagonistic, scheming, angry, afraid for what would come and to lose control. The distinction was the understanding of and confidence in God’s sovereignty and goodness. It makes all the difference. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In our lives, constant disruptions and teasers to fear and doom can keep us anything but serene. The more we fixate on what-ifs and to-dos, the less we think on Who He is, and remain unsettled. These problems will not stop, but we can change in the way we perceive and handle them. All is not lost when circumstances go awry when we know the One who is sovereign over today and holds tomorrow.

What fretting, manipulating, or betrayal peppers our minds with worry and angst? Is there unsettled dissension, or unwarranted fear that eats away at our peace? Where have circumstances so turned that it seems there is no good way out?

Look up at the joy ahead! The Lord is writing the story and crafts a beautiful end! Take heart! Rest untroubled! Through every wicked turn, ugly intention, breaking storm, and choking grief, there is the Sovereign, ruling over all, to glorious ends. (Luke 8:22-25)

Lord, keep me at peace, serene and strong, as I work out and trust in Your sovereign will.