Sovereignty in Motion
How to stand when everything is falling apart.
In 2021, I saw something I cannot unsee. A team of nurses, doctors, and technicians performed CPR on my son. To this day, I can still vividly remember the sounds of the monitor as his blood pressure and heart rate dropped to drastically dangerous levels. I can still see the panicked look on the faces of some of the younger nurses. I can still feel my wife’s grip on my arm as she squeezed and did everything she could to help in that moment. A well-oiled team set into motion adjusting medications while a nurse knelt on top of my son’s bed, trying to keep the blood flowing to his brain by compressing his chest rhythmically at 100 beats per minute. Every second becomes critical. In moments like that, you don't have time to think or process; your actions and thoughts are simply reactions. While not everyone will be in this exact situation, I can promise you there will come a point in your life where you will have a moment of chaos like this. How are we to react? I want to make an assertion here. At this point, every Christian needs a doctrine of sovereignty in motion.
What is sovereignty in motion? Historically, Christians would affirm that God is sovereign, which is to say that God controls this world. As Abraham Kuyper put it, it is the full belief that "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’" This is an extremely comforting doctrine that can often allow us to process terrible things that happen in our lives. This processing, though, often happens in reflection in the rearview, and while it is important, we need something for these times of tragedy when everything comes crashing down—that is sovereignty in motion. So what does it mean when I say sovereignty in motion? Sovereignty in motion is simply to trust that God is God and that He is working out this event unfolding before my eyes and He has a purpose and a good behind it.
My son has Williams Syndrome, which is a genetic condition caused by the deletion of about 26-28 genes on chromosome 7 (7q11.23). This genetic deletion caused a congenital heart defect known as a coarctation of the aorta, characterized by a narrowing of the aorta, the major artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It also causes him to have often drastic responses to anesthesia. This is what ultimately led to the events described above. In reflection, I can affirm the truth that every molecule that makes up my son's heart was knitted together in the womb by God. Every piece of DNA in my son's body was placed there by a loving and sovereign Creator. Every piece that the doctors say is missing was not placed there by my Creator. He has a purpose and plan for exactly why this would happen. So when things start to fail or fall apart, sovereignty in motion gives you grounding, something to hold onto when the world begins to shake like an earthquake
Relation before Reflection
How do we respond in the moment? When life is in motion, as life always is, there is often no time for reflection and meditation amid a crisis. When you are watching a loved one receive CPR or getting news that you may never walk again, you don't have the eternal perspective of God to allow you to rest in the comfort of it all working out. However, you do have a relational tool at your disposal: a relationship with the One who does understand the greater purpose.
My oldest son is five and has severe autism. He is extremely smart, but his grasp on the meaning and reasoning behind things is not always there. The phrase "He is in his own little world” often comes to mind. When we take him to the doctor's office, he can often be overstimulated, leading to a meltdown on the floor with him screaming and crying. He is terrified of the unstructured reality of this world (and to be honest, so am I). Last time he was sick, we had to get him checked out because strep throat was sprinting through his Pre-K class like Usain Bolt in the 100-meter dash. He lost his mind every time the doctor came into the room and tried to direct him or perform even the most basic tests. While our case is a little extreme, it is not uncommon for most kids to have some fear of going to the doctor, and in reality, most adults do too. He knows he is going to be poked and prodded. He knows that he will feel uncomfortable, and therefore he freaks out. Yet one thing sticks out in all these moments: his crying out for me.
"Dadddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!" is yelled over and over again. This crying out is the perfect picture of what happens in our life. When life is in motion and it feels chaotic or overstimulating, we don't know what to do or where to turn. Our childlike nature leads us to cry out to someone greater who understands. That itself is sovereignty in motion. My son knows that I love him and knows that I am in control (in a limited sense). He knows that I can rescue him and that I am there for him. He knows that I know and that I love him.
Conclusion
In moments of extreme chaos and uncertainty, such as witnessing a loved one undergoing CPR, our reactions are instinctual and immediate. The doctrine of sovereignty in motion offers a profound anchor during these times, reminding us that a greater purpose is at play, even in the most distressing circumstances. For Christians, this means trusting that God is actively working through every situation, with a purpose and plan that may not be immediately visible. Reflecting on my experiences with my sons, I find solace in the belief that God's sovereignty encompasses all aspects of our lives, providing a relational tool and a foundation of trust. As we face our own moments of chaos, we can cry out to the One who understands and find comfort in His sovereign control.