Reformed theology begins with the sovereignty of God and follows the logic without softening it: if God is genuinely sovereign, then salvation cannot depend on human decision, and election is unconditional. Calvin's own emphasis was on assurance — the doctrine was pastorally intended to remove the anxiety of wondering whether you had done enough, since it was never up to you. Its reception has often been the opposite, and the anxiety about whether one is elect is a recognized feature of Reformed history.