Literary Executive Review: Allen Daugherty, “God Is in Control of Everything: but God Does Not Control Everything”
by ReadersMagnet | October 29, 2025 | Literary Executive Review | 0 Comments
Sometimes in life, questions are more important than answers. “Why, God?” is frequently the first thing that comes out of our mouths when a loved one becomes ill, a child suffers, or tragedy strikes without warning.” It’s a cry that echoes through every believer’s heart — the longing to understand divine purpose in the midst of pain. In God Is in Control of Everything: but God Does Not Control Everything, author Allen Daugherty tenderly faces this very question and offers comfort grounded in Scripture and experience.
For any Christian who has struggled with confusion during life’s storms, this book serves as a spiritual reflection. Instead of trying to solve every mystery, Daugherty leads readers to a place of acceptance and peace through its pages – a peace that, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “passeth all understanding.” His central message is simple but profound: while God is sovereign over all creation, He does not control every circumstance in the way we might expect. This distinction, drawn from biblical truth, becomes a doorway to understanding God’s love and wisdom in a broken world.
Understanding God’s Ways in Human Suffering
The core of Daugherty’s message is a sympathetic examination of the dilemma that many Christians face: if God is in charge, why does He permit suffering? He reminds us that suffering is a common human experience by using well-known instances of adversity, such as a child’s illness, an unexpected loss, or a terrible accident. Drawing from Matthew 5:45, he anchors his reflections in the truth that “God maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” In these verses, Daugherty finds the key to understanding both divine justice and mercy.
Rather than seeing storms as punishments or random misfortunes, he encourages readers to see them as part of life’s design – opportunities to grow in faith and depend on God’s sustaining grace. It’s a comforting reminder that God’s love doesn’t manifest only in blessings but also in how He carries us through adversity.
A Pastor’s Heart and a Teacher’s Faith
Daugherty’s writing carries the weight of lived faith. Having been saved in 1974 at the age of eighteen while serving in the U.S. Air Force, and called to preach the following year, he writes not as a distant theologian but as a shepherd who has walked through his own valleys. His voice is both pastoral and deeply personal, shaped by years of ministry – starting churches, pastoring congregations, and evangelizing across communities.
Every line of the book reflects his conviction that “lasting spiritual changes in a Christian, in a church, or in a nation can only occur by the working of God through His Word and the Holy Spirit.” This belief forms the backbone of the book’s message. Daugherty doesn’t offer philosophical speculation or emotional clichés. Instead, he leans on Scripture to show that though our understanding is limited, God’s wisdom and love are limitless.
Quoting Romans 11:33, he reminds us that God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and His ways “past finding out.” Likewise, Isaiah 55:8–9 and Psalm 139:6 echo through his pages – verses that humble the mind while uplifting the spirit. Through them, Daugherty teaches readers to accept that our finite minds cannot grasp infinite wisdom, but we can trust that God’s purposes are good, even when unseen.
Clarity and Strength in Simplicity
From a writer’s perspective, Daugherty’s style is refreshingly clear. He writes the way a faithful preacher would speak to a congregation – direct, compassionate, and full of conviction. There is no pretense or complexity, only heartfelt truth supported by Scripture. Each paragraph reads like a sermon distilled into comforting prose, making it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds.
His straightforward language becomes part of the book’s strength. Readers don’t need theological training to follow his reasoning. Instead, they are gently led through Scripture, shown how faith operates even when reason fails. In this sense, God Is in Control of Everything: but God Does Not Control Everything becomes more than just a title – it is a lesson in surrendering human logic to divine trust.
The Cover: A Reflection of Faith and Perspective
Despite its simplicity, the book’s cover effectively conveys its message. It reflects the serene confidence that permeates the text: that peace comes from trusting the One who knows the answers, not from possessing them all. The title itself is highlighted by the design, making its profound truth stand out. Its uncomplicated presentation embodies the core of Daugherty’s teaching: faith is based on the obvious sovereignty of God.
Before the first page is even turned, this cover says a lot to readers looking for books that are comforting without being complicated. It encourages reflection and humility and serves as a visual reminder that the power of truth is not dependent on decoration.
A Message of Hope and Peace
As someone who has served in ministry for decades, Daugherty writes from both experience and compassion. He understands the human tendency to question God’s will during loss or disappointment. Yet rather than offering abstract theology, he offers presence – the reassurance that God’s Word holds every answer we truly need.
The book encourages readers to find peace in surrendering their need for control. It’s a timely message in a world consumed by uncertainty. Whether one is enduring illness, loss, or simple confusion about life’s direction, this book offers a gentle reminder that trust is not weakness but strength – a daily act of faith that anchors us when nothing else makes sense.
Conclusion
God Is in Control of Everything: but God Does Not Control Everything is not merely a theological statement; it is a compassionate guide for every believer facing life’s hardest questions. Allen Daugherty writes as a pastor, teacher, and fellow traveler through life’s storms, reminding readers that God’s love remains steadfast even when His plans are hidden.
In a time when faith is often tested by tragedy and fear, this book calls us back to the foundation of trust – to believe, to hope, and to rest in the truth that while God allows both sunshine and rain, His purpose is always good.
It’s a book that deserves a place beside every believer’s Bible – a source of reassurance that no matter the storm, the One who commands the wind still holds our lives in His hands. Get a copy on Amazon.
