Go! And Trust the God Who Reigns Over All
Isaiah 45:7 (NLT) – “I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.”
Genesis 1:31 (NLT) – “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
Introduction: Gripping the Heart
Have you ever stood at the edge of pain, confusion, or suffering and wondered: “God, where are You in this?”
Many of us have faced moments where the goodness of God and the reality of suffering seem irreconcilable. But today, as we continue our “Go! And…” series, I invite you to lean into the Word of God and see that the One who formed the light and the darkness is still sovereign, still good, and still worthy of our trust.
This message is titled: “Go! And Trust the God Who Reigns Over All” because God is not absent in the chaos — He is Lord over all. And He invites us not only to observe His sovereignty, but to trust Him with our whole lives — especially in the moments we don’t understand.
I. God Is the Sovereign Creator of All
Let’s begin with the Word of God:
Isaiah 45:7 (NLT) – “I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.”
Isaiah 45 is a remarkable passage where God speaks through the prophet about Cyrus, a Persian king who did not yet know Him, but would be used by God for His purposes. God declares His sovereignty not just over Israel, but over all nations, peoples, and even history itself. Verse 7 directly confronts our worldview. God is not just the God of “light” — He is God over the “darkness” too. The Hebrew word for “create” here is ?????? (bara’), the same word used in Genesis 1:1 — “In the beginning, God created…” It refers to divine, intentional creation. Nothing is accidental.
The word for “darkness” is ??????? (choshekh), used in Genesis 1:2 — “darkness covered the deep waters.” Darkness is not outside of God’s control. He is over both light and darkness.
God says He sends good times and bad — the Hebrew terms are ??????? (shalom) meaning peace or wellbeing, and ??? (ra’) which can mean adversity or calamity. In the theological context of Isaiah, this does not mean God is evil, but that He sovereignly rules over both the blessings and the trials of life.
Romans 8:28 (NLT): “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
God is not just reactive. He is proactive. He weaves together all things — including pain, confusion, loss — for the ultimate good of those who trust in Him.
John Piper: “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
Piper’s reminder is powerful. In our pain, we often see only what’s in front of us, but God is at work in the hidden, the silent, the dark.
A tapestry looks chaotic on the back — knots, loose threads, messy. But on the front, it’s a masterpiece. God is weaving your life from the front, even if all you see is the back.
II. Creation Was Good, but Sin Distorted It
Genesis 1:31 (NLT): “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
This is a critical verse. At the end of creation, God didn’t just see His work as good — He saw it as very good. The Hebrew phrase ???? ????? (tov me’od) communicates completeness, harmony, and perfection. Everything in creation was in balance — light and dark, sea and land, life and breath.
But then came the Fall.
Romans 5:12 (NLT): “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”
Sin fractured the harmony. Pain, suffering, death — they are not from God’s original design. They are the consequences of rebellion against Him. Yet, God did not abandon His creation.
Tim Keller: “The world is not the way it’s supposed to be. That’s the Bible’s diagnosis. It is broken, and we are the ones who broke it.”
Keller reminds us that blaming God for evil misunderstands Scripture. God created a perfect world; we, through sin, introduced brokenness. But God has a plan of restoration.
III. God Uses Darkness to Reveal His Light
2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT): “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Paul links the Genesis act of creation to the transformation that happens in salvation. Just as God said, “Let there be light,” He speaks life into our darkened hearts through Christ.
The Greek word used here for “shine” is ??µp? (lampo), meaning to radiate or beam forth. Salvation is not a flicker — it’s a blazing light of glory, revealing Jesus to us.
Max Lucado: “God sees your mess and loves you anyway. He is the Light that the darkness cannot overcome.”
Lucado reminds us of the heart of the Gospel — God does not wait for us to escape the dark; He enters into it with us.
Imagine being lost in a cave, no light, no way out. Suddenly, a torch is lowered from above. That’s what God did in Jesus — He lowered Himself into our darkness to rescue us.
IV. Jesus Christ: God’s Answer to a Broken World
John 1:5 (NLT): “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
Jesus came into a world marred by sin and brought the light of truth, healing, and hope. Through His death on the cross, He took the full weight of our darkness.
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT): “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”
R.T. Kendall: “The cross is the ultimate proof that God can take the worst evil and turn it into the greatest good.”
Kendall’s words strike deep. The darkest day in history — the crucifixion — became the brightest dawn of salvation.
V. The Gospel Invitation
The Gospel is not a self-help message. It is the declaration that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came into this broken world, lived a perfect life, died a sinner’s death, and rose again in power.
Through His sacrifice:
Your sins can be forgiven.
Your darkness can be replaced with light.
Your shame can be covered with grace.
Your death sentence can become eternal life.
Romans 10:9 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This is the call to trust in the God who reigns over all — the God who can take the darkness in your life and make it new.
VI. Call to Action: Trust the Sovereign Lord
Are you in a season of suffering?
Are you walking through a valley of confusion, loss, or fear?
Then hear God’s Word today:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5)
God is not distant. He is not absent. He is not indifferent.
He reigns. He is working. He is good.
Charles Stanley: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
That’s what it means to trust a sovereign God. Obedience rooted in faith — not in circumstances.
Practical Life Application:
In suffering, worship.
In uncertainty, pray.
In blessing, give thanks.
In weakness, rely on His strength.
In everything, trust His sovereign plan.
VII. A Heartfelt Invitation to Salvation
If you do not yet know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, don’t leave today without receiving the Light of Christ.
Pray this simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I admit that I have lived in darkness. I believe You are the Light of the world. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I repent of my sin and trust in You as my Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit. Shine Your light in me. Amen.”
Benediction & Encouragement
Brothers and sisters,
Go and trust the God who reigns over all.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May He cause His face to shine upon you,
And may His light guide you through every dark valley.
You are never alone —
The sovereign God who creates light and darkness walks with you.
And in Christ, the darkness will never win.
