In The Margins

I (Justan) hope that these past few weeks exploring God’s incommunicable attributes—the qualities that belong to Him alone—have helped you better grasp His greatness and glory. When we talk about His unchangeableness, His omnipresence, or His “everywhen,” it should fill us with awe and reverence. But it should also remind us of something equally important: we are not God.

God has made Himself known to us, but He will never be fully comprehended by us. There will always be mystery—and honestly, that’s part of what makes Him God.

I find this the most true when I try to understand and wrap my head around the concept of God’s omnipotence.
The Gospel Coalition defines omnipotence as God’s “complete and total control over everything.”

Isaiah 55:11 says:

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

That means when God speaks, it happens. His words always fulfill His purpose—completely and perfectly. Just think about that for a moment: God does what He wants, and it happens.

Now, there’s a common misunderstanding about this attribute. People sometimes say “God can do anything,” but that’s not exactly true. The Bible actually tells us there are some things God cannot do—and that’s a good thing.

He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and He cannot act immorally. Since God is perfectly good and holy, He can’t do anything evil. He also can’t do things that are logically contradictory, like making a round square. His truth, power, and goodness are all perfectly consistent.

As the Gospel Coalition explains, “God cannot work in ways that are contrary to His character or ultimate purpose.” His power is never random or reckless—it’s always an expression of His goodness and love.

And honestly? That’s hard for me to wrap my head around sometimes—especially when I feel powerless.

A few weeks ago, I spilled milk in the backseat of my car and didn’t realize it. Days later, the smell nearly made me pull over and sell the thing on the spot. I’ve scrubbed, sprayed, and prayed—and the smell still won’t go away. Meanwhile, God is determining rulers of kingdoms (Isaiah 44:28) and knitting together every person in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13–16).

When I try to take control of my own life, I end up anxious and frustrated. But for God, control isn’t a struggle—it’s simply who He is. His power flows naturally from His character.

So here’s the truth to hold onto today: God’s omnipotence means that no matter what you face, He’s in control.

You can rest in that.
When you walk into school—He’s in control.
When you sit down for that test—He’s in control.
When you start worrying about your future—He’s still in control.

You don’t have to hold everything together, because He already does.

Reflective Questions:

When in your life do you feel most tempted to take control instead of trusting that God already has it?

How does knowing that God’s power is always good—never random or cruel—change the way you see His authority?

Can you think of a time when something didn’t go your way, but later you saw how God was working through it?

For Further Reading or Study: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/omnipotence-omniscience-omnipresence-god/