Trusting God

by Jerry Bridges

He permits, for reasons known only to Himself, people to act contrary to and in defiance of His revealed will. But He never permits them to act contrary to His sovereign will. In support of the statement I have just made—God never permits people to act contrary to His sovereign will—consider the following passages of Scripture: In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. PROVERBS 16:9 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. PROVERBS 19:21 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. PROVERBS 21:30 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? ECCLESIASTES 7:13 Who can speak and have it happen if the LORD has not decreed it? LAMENTATIONS 3:37 You ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” JAMES 4:15 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. REVELATION 3:7