The Providence of God

I love reading history. It doesn't mater what the topic is about, as long as it's interesting. I, of course, also enjoy reading theology as well as anything that is spiritually true and challenging. Therefore, I really enjoy reading biographies of great Christian saints of the past. It's always amazing to see how God has worked in others' lives, sometimes in extraordinary ways.

I've been reading a biography on the great reformer, John Calvin. Unfortunately, when some people think of Calvin they immediately think of his stance on predestination and God's involvement in one's salvation. No matter what your theological convictions are concerning God's sovereignty and his involvement in that matter, Calvin is full of other wonderful insights. And he wrote a lot.

One book of the Bible that he loved reading and teaching was the book of Psalms. In fact, the Psalms was the only Old Testament book that he would preach from on Sunday mornings. Part of the reason that he loved the Psalms so much was because of its focus on God's providence. Read what he says concerning the issue of God's involvement in the world:

"The guardianship of God does not secure us from being sometimes exercised with the cross and afflictions, and that therefore the faithful ought not to promise themselves a delicate and easy life in this world, it being enough for them not to be abandoned of God when they stand in need of his help. Their heavenly Father, it is true, loves the most tenderly, but he will have them awakened by the cross, lest they should give themselves too much to the pleasures of the flesh." (Commentary on Psalms, Ps. 125, bold mine)

God's providence and governance over the world does not mean that His people will not suffer. Those preachers that teach that Christians should never have problems or suffering are telling lies that the Evil One would have you believe. Yes, Christians do suffer. Sometimes they suffer as a result of simply living in a sinful world and sometimes they suffer because God allows it for their needed sanctification.

Furthermore, God's providence in all things enable Christians to grow in their faith and live lives of confidence in Him:

"...there is nothing more calculated to increase our faith, than the knowledge of the providence of God; because without it, we would be harassed with doubts and fears, being uncertain whether or not the world was governed by chance. For this reason, it follows that those who aim at the subversion of this doctrine, depriving the children of God of true comfort, and vexing their minds by unsettling their faith, forge for themselves a hell upon earth. For what can be more awfully tormenting than to be constantly racked with doubt and anxiety? And we will never be able to arrive at a calm state of mind until we are taught to repose with implicit confidence in the providence of God." (Psalms, Ps. 107, bold mine)

Serving a God who was not completely involved in the world and completely in control would indeed be "awfully tormenting." We would live lives of constant doubt and anxiety. Unfortunately, many Christians do live lives like this. This should not be so. No matter what your circumstance or trouble that is in your life know that God has it completely in control. Life is not supposed to be easy, despite God's love for us. And part of your troubles are actually for your spiritual benefit!

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Count it all joy when you undergo problems. Count it all joy because God is enabling you to go through this and count it all joy because He is completely in control. That is the God that we serve.