Is God Really in Control?

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

July 5th, 2026

“God is in control.” How often have you heard that or said that. Don’t worry, God is in control, everything will be fine. Whatever it is it will all work out just as God planned. The sickness, the disability, the sin and addictions, the fear of death, loneliness, the death of someone you love. The job you hate, the job you want. The bills you can’t pay, the house you dream of but can’t have. The marriage that’s crumbling. The fighting with your wife, your husband. The kids that are stressing you out. People you love that have embraced the sins of this world, and some have left the church. All of this and more. The stress, the worry, fear, anxiety and depression all finds a place in your mind, it disrupts your home and steals your peace.

But God is in control. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Do you believe it? Have you convinced yourself yet? We hear it, we say it to ourselves to try and bring some hope in the midst of the suffering and the chaos. But saying this and knowing this seldom seems to diminish whatever trouble we are dealing with. Maybe we are uplifted for a moment but then just like that the waves comes crashing down, crushing the brief moment of peace. The worry, fear, anxiety, and depression settle back in.

God is in control is one of those often repeated phrases that are not actually in the Bible. Kind of like the phrase God will never give you more than you can handle. I believe we would bring more comfort into our suffering and chaos if we worked on memorizing and reciting things God has actually said. The real words of God. Because God has much to say about our situation. And what God has said is powerful. It brings assurance that He is in control. Because God’s Word is Jesus and it is the truth that saves us.

God is in control. We know it’s true. But in what way, and for what purpose is God in control. Paul writes: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).”

The Psalmist writes: Though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. God utters His voice - the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us. We will not fear (Psalm 46).

God’s Word is clear. Christ is crucified, He is risen and He is ascended to heaven. He rules over all things. All things are subject to Him. Nothing is outside of His control (Heb 2:8). So yes, God is in control working all things for our eternal good through the death and resurrection of Jesus. God’s control and power is only understood rightly by seeing His love in Jesus crucified on the Cross to save us. We only know this and find hope and comfort in this truth by listening to what God has spoken in His Word.

Yet, we are often not satisfied with the Words of God. We prefer things we can see, experience, or feel. Something in our hearts that moves us or guides us, above and beyond the simple Words of God. Inside we doubt whether God’s Word is true. Is it enough?

Elijah doubted what God had spoken and worked through him. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Bible. He was called by God to face down the satanic evil that had taken hold of the Israelites and her kings and their worship of pagan gods. Elijah stood against evil kings and a wicked, bloodthirsty queen. Death was knocking on his door every day. At God’s command Elijah spoke and performed great signs and wonders. Elijah prayed and for three and a half years there was a drought. Elijah would pray again and the drought would end. Through Elijah God worked the miracle of the flour and oil that didn’t run out for the widow of Zarephath. And the widow’s son that died, Elijah brought back to life. On two separate occasions Elijah called fire down from heaven to consume 50 soldiers sent to arrest him.

And right before our reading today was the famous confrontation between Elijah had the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Evil king Ahab has abandoned the true God and embraced the worship of Baal. Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to offer a sacrifice and call on their god to bring fire and consume their offering. Of course they failed. But Elijah’s sacrifice was offered to God, drenched in water and fire from God came down and consumed all of it, the offering, the wood, the stone, the dust and the water. And then Elijah slaughtered all the prophets of Baal. Truth will not be defeated by evil.

Elijah was faithful and fearless. Until he wasn’t. Right after defeating the prophets of Baal, Elijah became fearful and faithless, despite the undeniable control and power of God he just witnessed.

In the OT reading today (1 Kings 19:11-21), Elijah is scared and hiding and complaining to God. He’s on the run from the wife of Ahab, Jezebel, who is seeking to kill him. Elijah begins to despair, saying that the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars and killed Your prophets and I am the only one left, and they want me dead. Despair and hopelessness are consuming Elijah.

Elijah is weak and faithless and not trusting in the power and control of God. Elijah wanted something more than the simple voice of God in His Word. Just like you and me so often do. We want more than what God has spoken to us. But God says, no, what I’ve spoken in My Word is enough. How often do we act like Elijah had forget what God has promised us in His Word?

God goes to Elijah and shows him who’s in control and where God’s true power is found. First God acts in a series of spectacular displays in nature. First, a wind that tore the mountain and broke the rocks. Then the earthquake. Then the fire. Each event increasingly more intense and powerful. But the Lord was not found in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. But after the fire, a low whisper. A still small voice. There is the real power of God. It’s in His voice, His Word.

After the violent and fearful display of power, God speaks. He is gentle and loving. His Word never departs from you. Even when you are in the midst of the storm and the mountain is shaking and breaking apart, and the fire is threatening, God is still speaking. He is in control. His control is found in the Word He speaks which tells you where His true power and control is found. It’s in the crucifixion of His Son, Jesus that overcomes all that afflicts you. To the world it is weakness. But to you it is your salvation and deliverance.

God works that power and control in your lives through His Word which you hear. And that Word is Jesus. It is the still small voice of God that says I have overcome all things in my Son. Your sin, your sickness, your dying, your depression and despair. Your sadness and loneliness. Your missteps and failings. All the strongholds of sin, satan, and this evil world have been defeated in the bloody Cross of Jesus. The purpose of God’s control in Christ crucified is to deliver you from this broken world at the resurrection and into paradise with Jesus to live forever.

The same God that spoke to Elijah and told him to “Go return on your way.” Tells you to go. Continue the fight. You are not alone. I have done the work you couldn’t do in My Son. And Jesus promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Nothing is too great for the creator of the universe. He knows what He’s doing even if it seems as if He doesn’t.

Before the foundation of the world God chose to work His power and control for you and all things in the sacrifice of His only Son on the Cross in your place. To the unbelieving world this is foolishness. But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God that saves us.

Be like Elijah. Hear God’s voice that speaks to you today in His Word. Hold fast to that Word. It is true and it is enough. Don’t listen to the unbelieving world. Don’t listen to or trust what’s in your heart. Don’t seek God where He hasn’t promised to be found. Hear the voice of God in His Word and be like Peter in the Gospel reading (Luke 5:1-11). When all things seem pointless and hopeless. When you’ve toiled all night long without a fish to show. Listen to Jesus and say, “Lord at Your Word I will let down the nets.” You know what’s best Lord. And then believe that Word and do not be afraid because Jesus Christ is crucified and He is risen for you. He is risen indeed. Alleluia. Thanks be to Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.