During the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, Al Michaels covered the hockey venue for ABC Sports. The network could have used other broadcasters, but Michaels got the nod because he was the only announcer on staff who had experience calling a hockey game. Michaels had called one game 8 years earlier.

His assignment allowed Michaels to announce the February 22, 1980, medal-round match between the United States and the Soviet Union that has come to be known as the Miracle on Ice. In the closing seconds of the United States’ improbable victory, Michaels enthusiastically stated what has become a memorable phrase, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

Years later, Michaels chalked up this “highlight” of his career to “dumb luck.” He added, “Without calling that one hockey game, I could have ended up covering the biathlon. And there were no miracles at the biathlon that year.” While Michael’s humility is admirable, there is another explanation. When life comes together in remarkable ways, it is more about divine sovereignty than blind fate.

Daniel records the remarkable events of the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. After rising to the throne of Babylon and becoming utterly full of himself, his kingdom was ripped away by God, who caused him to completely lose touch with reality (Daniel 4:28-33). It wasn’t until 7 years later, after a humbled Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s sovereignty, that his sanity and kingdom were restored (Daniel 4:34-37).

Nebuchadnezzar didn’t consider this surprising turn of events as random. The experience taught him that the results of life are ultimately in God’s hands. Nothing happens outside of the ultimate control of the One who “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [Him] and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 29:14-30