Is God In Control Of All Things?

Introduction
Do things just happen?  Is it just luck, fortune, or fate?  Do things happen for no reason?  Does God just deal with the major things and not care about the small things?  Is God dependent on what human beings do?  Does he just react to the free choices made by humans?  For the answers we will turn to the Bible to see what God has revealed to us.

Small And Insignificant Things
In (Matthew 10:28-31) we are told that a sparrow does not fall to the ground apart from God and that the hairs of our heads are numbered.  The sparrow was considered to be of little value and God is even in control and concerned with it.  The hairs of our head are even numbered showing that God is concerned with even the smallest details.  God is in control of even the things we consider small and insignificant so we should have no fear.  

The Elements, The Weather
(See Job 37:9-13, Psalm 147:8, Psalm 148:8)
The rain, snow, ice, storms, and even tornadoes and hurricanes are under the sovereignty of God.  None of these things happen without God decreeing that they happen.  

Pain, Suffering, and Physical Disabilities
(Exodus 4:11) "Then the LORD said to him, Who had made man's mouth?  Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind?  Is it not I, the LORD?"  (ESV) 

This verse may be shocking to many modern evangelicals.  But it is indeed God who is sovereign over physical suffering and pain. All these things ultimately bring glory to God in some way even though we may not understand it.  (See also John 9:3)

Luck, Fortune, Chance
(Proverbs 16:33) "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."  (ESV) 

Saying the lot is cast into the lap is basically equivalent to the rolling of the dice today.  Things like these are even under the sovereignty of God.  We would consider the roll of the dice as luck but there is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance.  God is in control so things do not just happen for no reason. 

People And Plans
(Proverbs 19:21) "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." (ESV)

(Proverbs 21:1) "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD, he turns it wherever he will." (ESV)   

God is sovereign even over people and the plan that they have.  No matter what the plans of a man are, the purpose of the LORD will prevail.  God's will cannot be thwarted by humans.  Even a king who was considered to be sovereign on earth is under the control of God.  

Good And Bad Things
(Isaiah 45:7) "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." (ESV) 

(Lamentations 3:37-38) "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?  Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" (ESV) 

God is in absolute control of good things and even bad things.  We easily credit God with the good things that happen but we act as if God does not really have control of the bad things.  We should keep in mind that none of us deserve good from God but only his judgment because we have all rebelled against him.  Even the bad things ultimately bring glory to God.  

God's Will And Purpose
(Isaiah 46:10b) "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose." (ESV)

(Isaiah 46:11b) "I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass, I have purposed, and I will do it." (ESV) 

God's purpose and will cannot be thwarted by anyone or anything.  God is not dependent on humans and the choices they make, he does not just react to what they have done.  God never has to resort to plan B.  All that happens is under the sovereignty of God.  

Conclusion
God is sovereign over all things both big and small.  Humans, nations, the elements, pain and suffering, events and history are all under his control.  Everything that happens is part of God's plan and purpose.  His sovereign will cannot be violated.  We are wrong to think that things happen for no reason.  There is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance, or fate.  Saying we need to let go and let God is wrong also.  Think about this statement, do humans let God do anything?  God is the one who is in control of all things at all times.  It is also wrong to say it is in God's hands now.  It has been in God's hands all along.  God is absolutely sovereign over all things, they ultimately work for the glory of God.  The world is God's theater of glory as Calvin said.