Fruitful Living
How can I learn to trust that God is in control? —Final
How Much Control Does God Have?
GOD’S complete sovereignty contradicts the idea of open theism, which suggests that God does not know the future and must constantly react to human actions. This perspective diminishes God’s omniscience and places human free will above His authority. However, Scripture teaches that God actively governs all things, and nothing happens outside His knowledge and control. Daniel 4:35 declares, “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: ‘What have you done?’” No human will can override the sovereignty of God.
Some may believe that Satan has a degree of control over life and that God constantly revises His plans to counteract Satan’s actions. However, the Book of Job illustrates that Satan can do nothing without God’s permission. When Satan challenged Job’s faithfulness, God allowed him to test Job, but only within strict limits (Job 1:6–22). Satan could do nothing beyond what God permitted. This demonstrates that God remains fully sovereign even over the actions of the enemy.
God’s Sovereignty in Christ’s Redemption
Satan knew from the Old Testament that God’s plan was for Jesus to come, be betrayed, crucified, and resurrected for humanity’s salvation. If there were any way to prevent this, Satan would have done it. Yet, every prophecy concerning Christ was fulfilled exactly as God had planned. Acts 2:23 states, “Jesus was delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.” No action by the Romans, the Pharisees, or Judas could thwart God’s predetermined plan.
Ephesians 1 affirms that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. This means God sovereignly wove together Satan’s rebellion, Adam and Eve’s sin, the fall of humanity, and Christ’s crucifixion—all seemingly tragic events—to bring about salvation. This is a perfect example of God working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
How Can We Trust in God’s Sovereign Control?
The only way to trust in God’s sovereignty and rest in it is to know God. Knowing His attributes and His past works builds confidence in Him. Daniel 11:32b states, “The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” Imagine if such power resided in an unjust or indifferent god. But we rejoice in our God’s sovereignty because it is overshadowed by His goodness, love, mercy, compassion, faithfulness, and holiness.
However, we cannot trust someone we do not know. The only way to know God is through His Word. There is no magical prayer or shortcut to spiritual maturity. It requires consistent, diligent study of Scripture. The Bible is the single source of truth that transforms our hearts and minds. If we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, His sovereignty will become clear to us, and we will rejoice in it. We will come to know intimately and trust completely the God who controls all things for His perfect purpose.
Conclusion
Trusting in God’s sovereignty does not mean denying life’s difficulties but rather resting in the certainty that He is working all things according to His perfect plan. He is not a passive observer but the active ruler over all creation. Neither Satan, human free will, nor worldly chaos can challenge His authority. The key to trusting God is knowing Him—through His Word, His faithfulness in history, and His unchanging character. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we will not only trust Him more but also find strength and peace in His sovereign plan. Therefore, let us anchor our faith in His promises, delight in His Word, and live with confidence, knowing that He is always in control.
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Saying no to sin becomes easier when love leads the way
Though each of us faces temptations periodically, saying no to sin should not always be a long internal debate. Saying no becomes easier when we remember that saying yes hurts someone whose love we cannot live without.
Love is a powerful motivator. When you deeply love someone, you do not want to disappoint them or break their trust. In the same way, when we truly understand God’s love for us, obedience becomes a response of love, not merely a religious duty.
Jesus did not die for us because we were perfect. He died for us while we were still sinners. His sacrifice at Calvary was the ultimate demonstration of personal, sacrificial, and unconditional love. Every drop of blood, every wound, and every moment of suffering was endured so that we could be forgiven, restored, and given eternal life.
When we keep the cross before our eyes, sin begins to lose its attractiveness. How can we casually embrace what nailed our Saviour to the cross? How can we take lightly what cost Him everything? This realisation does not produce fear—it produces devotion.
Living with eternal accountability
Romans 14:7–12 reminds us that we do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. Each of us belongs to God, and each of us will give an account of our lives before Him. This truth is not meant to terrify us, but to sober us.
Our choices matter. Our words matter. Our actions matter. Not because we are trying to earn salvation, but because our lives are meant to reflect the One who saved us. Christianity is not a casual commitment; it is a lifelong surrender.
Living with eternal accountability helps us make wiser decisions. It teaches us to think beyond the moment and consider eternity. It helps us resist temporary pleasures that can cause lasting damage to our spiritual lives and our witness.
Conclusion
No one is too wicked, too broken, too unlovable, or too far gone for Jesus to love. His grace reaches deeper than our failures, and His mercy is greater than our mistakes. The way to life is always open, and the invitation of grace still stands.
Walking in the way of life does not mean we will never stumble, but it does mean we will never walk alone. Christ walks with us, strengthens us, forgives us, and leads us forward. And as we keep our eyes on the cross, may our hearts remain anchored in the love that saved us and continues to transform us.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Responsibility extends beyond our homes to our environment and communities.
Allah says: “It is He who has made you successors upon the earth.” (Qur’an 6:165)
As khalīfah (stewards), we are entrusted to protect and preserve the earth. Unfortunately, activities like illegal mining (galamsey), poor sanitation, and deforestation have become threats to our land and water bodies.
Dr Julian Agyeman and Bob Evans (2004) in Just Sustainability argue that environmental justice is deeply tied to social equity we cannot claim moral uprightness while destroying the environment that sustains others.
Every responsible man must see the environment as an amānah (trust). Picking up litter, planting trees, conserving water, and speaking against galamsey are all acts of faith. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift.” (Bukhari, Hadith 2320)
True responsibility therefore includes ecological consciousness for to destroy the environmentis to destroy the future we claim to build.
5.1 Environmental stewardship under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana establishes environmental stewardship not merely as a governmental obligation but as a moral and civic duty of all citizens. It integrates environmental protection into the nation’s vision for sustainable development, justice, and intergenerational equity. Three key articles Article 36 (9), Article 41(k), and Article 269 outline this framework of responsibility.
1. Article 36 (9): Directive principles of state policy
“The State shall take appropriate measures needed to protect and safeguard the national environment for posterity; and shall seek cooperation with other states and bodies for the purpose of protecting the wider international environment for mankind.”
This article establishes that environmental protection is both a national and global responsibility.
It commits Ghana to sustainable use of natural resources including land, forests, water, and minerals for the benefit of future generations.
In essence, it means that every Ghanaian must act with intergenerational consciousness, ensuring that today’s development does not destroy tomorrow’s heritage. This principle directly condemns harmful practices such as illegal mining (galamsey), deforestation, and pollution.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
