This verse brings me conviction in how quickly it points to the lapse between my beliefs about God and the attitude of my heart. I can more easily say that God is in control and sovereign over all things than I can look at earthly authorities and accept that God has positioned them according to His perfect plan and timing. That shift to looking beyond our “earthly kings” and posture our hearts toward submission to the Heavenly King is how we can begin to live out our beliefs on a daily basis.
When I start there, my expectations of those in authority and of the earthly policies at work in our world are shifted as well. Neither one is designed nor able to save, complete the healing work, or meet every need in our world. And yet, by God’s grace, He gives us direction on how to operate as good stewards and citizens, mimicking God’s priorities and agendas here on earth. All because God is the one who is establishing order and authority, deserving our full submission to Him first.