God’s Providence, Part 1
Welcome, ladies! Today’s blog comes from a dear servant of the Lord, Mrs. Claudia Barba. She is a godly, experienced counselor and friend. I am sure there is much she could teach us out of her own life and ministry. But what I love most about Claudia is that she continually strives to point others back to God and His Word. That’s how I knew she would be a perfect fit for our ThinkBible.online community. Read on, and listen closely to her wisdom. It is timely and appropriate for us today.
Something had ruined my plans. It was nobody’s fault, and that’s what was so frustrating--there was nobody to blame.
But anybody could see that what had happened to me was more than unfair; it was just plain wrong. I didn’t deserve it. I griped, grumbled, and complained like the teenager I was, whining on and on to my friend. I was sure he’d share my indignation.
But when I finally stopped ranting, he simply asked, “Claudia, who are you really mad at?”
I couldn’t answer. The truth was too painful. I was mad at God—the God Who loved me, Who saved me, Who had promised to work all things for my good, even the ones I find annoying. Especially those.
By now I’ve forgotten what had upset me so (and there’s a lesson in that). But I’ve never forgotten the question, and many times since, when aggravation has started simmering in my spirit, I’ve asked myself, “Claudia, who are you really mad at?”
God is not a silent, helpless spectator to the details of my day. Nothing ever just happens to me. Everything, every single thing, is a gift from His loving hand. He knows where He wants me to go and why and controls my circumstances to get me there. Sometimes He directly intervenes through miracles, but mostly He uses natural laws and the choices of other people to gently, or abruptly, direct my steps.
Nothing can frustrate God’s plans, for He is sovereign over His universe--absolutely and independently in control of everyone and everything in it.
The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand. (Isa. 14:24)
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Isa. 46:9-10)
This sovereign God is also perfectly, only, and always good.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! (Psa. 107:1)
The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth (Exod. 34:6)
Sovereign power unrestrained by goodness could be frightening. Goodness without sovereignty is sympathy without ability to bring about change. But when sovereignty and goodness work together, the outcome is something wonderful.
God’s sovereignty + God’s goodness = God’s providence.
Providence is taught or illustrated on every page of the Bible. Through providence, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
But some of the things that happen to us are awful. If God’s providence allows them to come, how can He be good? How can we believe He loves us?
Those are valid questions. I’ve asked them myself, along with almost everyone else. People called open theists deal with them by teaching that God’s knowledge of the future is as limited as ours, so He has to adjust His plans and cope with circumstances as they arise, making the best of whatever happens. Just like we do.
But God is not like us.
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Dan. 4:35).
Nothing in the universe is random or unrestrained. Everything happens “according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). And because He is good, His will is always good. Nobody, not even the devil himself, can touch you, your family, or your possessions without God’s consent. (Remember the story of Job.) You are safe.
But sometimes you may not feel safe. Sometimes it seems that nobody’s in charge, especially a wise, kind Father. This year has felt like that--a succession of sleep-stealing, peace-destroying, relationship-wrecking, confusion-creating, society-altering chaotic events.
During a season like this, it’s normal to wonder, “Why is God allowing this to happen in our world?” But maybe a better question is, “How should I respond to what He is allowing to happen in His world?” God has been neither absent nor helpless during 2020. He has overseen and restrained each crisis—for our good.
Do you find that hard to believe and accept? If so, dive into the Bible and don’t come up for air until you’ve discovered God’s providence and made its treasures your own. You’ll start breathing easily again and begin praising our good and powerful God--even when times are hard.
I’d like to help you do that. Join me for the next blog post.
(With thanks to missionary Darrel Champlin for his helpful definition of providence.)
