By Tony Martin
Editor
We say it all the time: “I’ve got this.” It’s our quick pep talk before a hard meeting, a scary diagnosis, or another round of headlines that read like the world is unraveling. “I’ve got this” feels strong in the moment — but if we’re honest, it also runs on fumes. Because apart from God, we’re just guessing, grinding, and hoping it works out.
Scripture gives us a better refrain: not “I’ve got this,” but “God’s got this.” That doesn’t make us passive or careless; it makes us wisely active and deeply at rest. We plan, we show up, we do the next faithful thing — but we finally exhale because the outcomes aren’t sitting on our shoulders. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Wise planning? Yes. Control of the universe? Hard pass.
The difference shows up everywhere. “I’ve got this” is loud; “God’s got this” is quiet confidence. “I’ve got this” runs on adrenaline; “God’s got this” runs on abiding. “I’ve got this” clenches its fists; “God’s got this” opens its hands. When we loosen our grip, the Father can place better things in it — peace we couldn’t manufacture, guidance we couldn’t foresee, and strength we couldn’t muster.
And here’s the anchor under all of it: not only does He have you, He has the entire world. Paul writes that in Christ “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). That means the global and the granular — the cosmos and your calendar. The old song says, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” That isn’t naive optimism; it’s good theology. The same hands that hung the stars are steady enough for your Monday.
So how do we live when God’s sovereignty is the headline and our responsibilities are the subpoints? Here’s a simple pattern to carry into your day:
1) Pray first.
Before you power up your plan, power down your hurry. Ask specifically for wisdom, because He gives it generously (James 1:5). “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) is not a suggestion to freeze — it’s a call to locate your strength. Stillness is the doorway to clarity.
2) Plan wisely.
God’s sovereignty isn’t a permission slip for passivity. Make a plan. Block your time. Prepare your talking points. But write it all in pencil with a big “DV” in the margin — Deo volente, “if the Lord wills” (James 4:13-15). We live responsibly under the reality that He can re-route us for our good.
3) Proceed humbly.
Walk into the room, make the phone call, send the proposal — but do it with the lightness of someone who isn’t auditioning for the role of Savior. Humility keeps you curious, patient, and teachable. It also keeps you from mistaking momentum for mastery.
4) Pivot quickly.
When doors shut or data changes, humility lets you adjust without spiraling. If God’s got this, then redirections aren’t failures; they’re guidance. “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28) often arrives disguised as “not this way.”
5) Praise continually.
Thank Him in the middle, not just the end (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Gratitude dethrones anxiety and resets your attention on the Giver, not the gifts. When you celebrate small faithfulness, you train your heart to spot God’s fingerprints.
Now, what about those days when the world looks like it’s fraying at every edge? Wars and rumors of wars, markets wobbling, headlines shouting — none of that is bigger than the One who “upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). If He holds galaxies without strain, He can hold your household without panic. If He governs history without hurry, He can guide your steps without confusion. The God who has the world has you — and not as an afterthought.
Let’s tell the truth about “I’ve got this.” It’s not evil; it’s just too small. It collapses under the weight of real life. But “God’s got this” is wide enough for what you’re carrying today: the decision you need to make, the person you need to forgive, the appointment you’re dreading, the bill you can’t see a way to pay. “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). That promise isn’t motivation on a poster; it’s the living presence of the Lord with His people.
So here’s a little exchange prayer you can use this week:
Lord, I trade ‘I’ve got this’ for ‘You’ve got me.’
I bring You my plan, and I trust Your path.
I will act with wisdom, and I will rest in Your sovereignty.
When I succeed, I’ll give You praise.
When I’m redirected, I’ll follow Your lead.
You have my day — and You have the world. Amen.
One more thought: when “I’ve got this” is the soundtrack, we tend to isolate. When “God’s got this” leads the playlist, we move toward community. Ask a friend to pray for your three biggest decisions this week. Share a short testimony of where God met you. Sing the old song if you need to — out loud in the kitchen: He’s got the whole world in His hands. Let your soul catch up to what’s true.
Make your plans. Take your steps. Do the next faithful thing. But let the pressure roll off your shoulders onto His. You don’t have to hold it all together — because in Christ, all things already are. And that changes how we work, how we wait, and how we rest today.
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