Towards the end of 2012, I looked back at key themes and said that I felt surrender was probably the word that best summed up all I had learnt that year. Hard on the heels of that lesson was probably the ever-growing belief (summarised in two songs in particular, ‘Even If’ and ‘Sovereign Over Us’) that God is in control and that takes a lot of the strain out of life! Even though it does not mean our lives will be free from trouble or pain, the knowledge that God is in control and is sovereign over all helps us to endure and to rejoice even in difficult circumstances.
The new album from Chris Tomlin, ‘Burning Lights’, was released this week and I have enjoyed listening to both familiar songs and new ones. Funnily enough, one song on this album also highlights this theme! It’s simply called ‘Sovereign’ and again reminds us that God is with us in every circumstance of life and can be trusted to work everything for good (Rom 8:28).
“Sovereign in the mountain air
Sovereign on the ocean floor
With me in the calm
With me in the storm
Sovereign in my greatest joy
In my deepest cry
With me in the dark
With me at the dawn
In Your everlasting arms
All the pieces of my life
From beginning to the end
I can trust You
In Your never failing love
You work everything for good
God, whatever comes my way
I will trust You
All my hopes
All I need
Held in Your hands
All my life
All of me
Held in Your hands.
All my fears
All my dreams
Held in Your hands.” (‘Sovereign’, Chris Tomlin, Martin Chalk, Jason Ingram, Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin)
‘Sovereign’, Chris Tomlin