Let God Be God
Verse:1 Chronicles 19:13
“Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth Him good.”
This short but powerful declaration of Joab before battle is one of the most profound statements of faith and submission to divine sovereignty found in Scripture. In this verse, we see the tension between human responsibility and divine freedom. Joab, though often portrayed later as a man of blood and political intrigue, here speaks with a spiritual awareness that few possess. He does not rely on his military skill or on the strength of his army; rather, he entrusts the outcome of the battle to the Lord’s sovereign will. His words, “Jehovah do that which seemeth Him good,” echo the deep understanding that God’s freedom as God cannot be manipulated, persuaded, or controlled by human effort, devotion, or expectation.
To say “Let God do His will” is not a phrase of resignation or spiritual weakness; it is the language of one who knows the nature of God deeply. It is born from a heart that has ceased to strive against the divine will. It declares that God is truly God — utterly free, perfectly wise, and sovereign in all things. Such a confession comes not from fatalism, but from faith. Joab did not say these words to escape responsibility; he still marched into battle bravely, fulfilling his duty. But even as he fought, he knew that the results did not belong to him. That is true faith — to do one’s best, yet surrender the end to the Lord.
In our lives too, this verse invites us to a higher posture of faith. We plan, we work, we pray, and we fight the battles that come before us. Yet the final outcome rests in the sovereign hands of God. We cannot bind God with our cords of expectation or predict how He must act. Even after the most fervent prayers, it is not ours to command, “God will surely do this or that.” God may answer differently, or He may not act as we hope — and still, He remains good. To say, “Let God do what seems good to Him” is not to deny faith but to express its deepest form. It is to bow before His Lordship, to confess that He alone has the right to determine the outcome of all things.
Such surrender is not an evasion of faith but an act of worship. Modern minds sometimes mistake these words for passivity, as if we use God’s will to cover our helplessness. But the spiritual man knows that to release control to God is not to lose courage, but to gain peace. It means standing firm in what we must do — to live faithfully, to pray earnestly, to act righteously — and then to let God be God in the result. That knowledge brings rest to the soul, because we no longer carry the unbearable burden of controlling outcomes.
Even when bad things happen to good people, it does not mean that God has failed or lost control. The sovereignty of God embraces both our joys and our sorrows. Sometimes, by His Spirit, we may sense how God might act — we may smell the fragrance of His direction — but the final outcome remains in His hand alone. The saint who truly knows God does not demand, “Why did You not do it my way?” but instead whispers, “Lord, You have done what seems good to You.” In that whisper lies the highest worship.
Therefore, our task is not to manipulate God but to walk before Him faithfully. Our calling is obedience; the result belongs to His sovereignty. This knowledge frees us from anxiety. It grants us peace to focus on our part — to be faithful, holy, and true in our actions — and to rest in the truth that God’s will, however it unfolds, is always perfect. The one who truly knows God learns to stand before Him and say with quiet reverence: “Do what seems good in Your eyes, O Lord.” That is not faithlessness; that is faith purified of pride. That is worship without demand. That is peace born of surrender.
Prayer:
O Sovereign Lord, who reigns above all creation, teach us the beauty of surrender. Grant us courage to act faithfully in every duty You set before us, yet grace to release every outcome into Your hands. Keep us from trying to bind You with our expectations or command You with our desires. Let our hearts rest in the assurance that whatever You do is good and wise beyond our knowing. When we do not understand Your ways, help us to still trust in Your will. Make us brave in obedience and humble in surrender. Let our lives be an offering of faith that says, “Let God be God.” Amen.