In the providence of God the Christian can rejoice in the knowledge that the Lord is working out all things for our ultimate good and His divine glory. Nancy Leigh DeMoss paints a beautiful picture of what God’s providence looks like when she says: “What a stunning picture this gives us of God’s amazing providence—His ability to look ahead, know exactly what is coming, and make provision for us before we even get there. He is not only a God who can help us handle our current issues and pressures but One who has already prepared comfort, help, and blessing for problems that aren’t even on our horizon.”1
The doctrine of divine providence states that God cares for us and directs all things in the universe. In short, under this doctrine, our God is in complete control of all things. Nothing can happen without our God allowing it to happen. We see this often in Scripture. (Daniel 2:21) tells us: “…He removes kings and raises up kings…” We read in (Genesis 50:20), when Joseph was speaking to his brothers who sold him into slavery: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” And in the New Testament we read about a conversation between Pilate and Jesus: “Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?’ Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’” (John 19:10-11). And in the case of Job, we read how Satan was only allowed to afflict him, with the permission of God.
In the providence of God we see that the Lord is sovereign over the whole universe. Knowing that God is sovereign over the entire universe and that He works all things for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28), should give us the confidence we need to rejoice, even in our trials, since we know that God will use our short term pain for our long term and eternal gain, and best of all for His glory!
Also knowing, in the words of DeMoss, that God has, “already prepared comfort, help, and blessing for problems that aren’t even on our horizon,” tells me that our awesome God is simply “awesome.” And it’s because of God’s goodness, power, and providence that I can always rejoice, no matter what pain and suffering I go through, knowing that our Lord always has my back, and that I can trust my unknown temporal future to a known God, who works all things for my ultimate good!
In the final analysis God’s providence allows the Christian to know that our heavenly Father is always in our corner – even when we stray away and disappoint Him. And knowing that we are eternally secure in our salvation, and that in God’s providence He will use even our most difficult trials for our good and His glory, allows me to sleep well at night and rejoice always!