“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3). “Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isa. 46:9-10).
Heavenly Father, your sovereignty is a mystery to us—generating hands raised in adoration, hands grasping for control, and hands wringing with vulnerability. When we finally believed our salvation is all by grace—from beginning to end, even we non-dancers danced the dance of joy (at least metaphorically!). What a relief it is to know Jesus is our perfect righteousness, not our self-salvation coach.
However, things get a little emotionally “dicey” when your absolute sovereignty collides with our chronic pain, selfless longings for others, and prayers we assume should easily generate a “But of course, Yes!” from you.
So here we are again Father, not asking you to change, but trusting you for more grace—supernatural grace to feel your peace when we don’t see your hand. Super-abundant grace to affirm you are a good, good Father, even when your ways contradict our preferences, timetable, and sensibilities. Sufficient grace to boast in our weaknesses, and not just bemoan them. (2 Cor. 12:9).
You do whatever pleases you, Father, and we are so grateful it over-pleased you to give Jesus to us, and for us. You aren’t wistful; you only “wish” what will actually happen. Ultimately, whatever pleases you, and everything you “wish,” will totally enthrall, hyper-gladden, and over-please us.
By your Holy Spirit bring a bit of our perfect future into the messy present. Lastly, Father, help us help each other in this journey of wrestling with and resting in your Fatherly sovereignty. So Very Amen, we pray.