God's Providence Even When Things Are Not Good
God works all things for my good.
In saying this, I can simply quote the apostle Paul, who wrote,
- “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
- That all things work together for our good is easy to believe
- when things go the way we suppose they ought to go.
- Yet do I think the same of sickness and poverty?
- When I experience great difficulties,
- it becomes harder to believe in the providence of God.
- I have to believe in the providence of God, as difficult as it is.
- I must and may believe that this,
- like all things,
- will turn out for my good and for my salvation.
It is also hard to trust in God’s
providential care
- when I do not receive the things I think urgently need.
When I speak about the providence of
God,
- the question concerning sin and evil also enters the picture:
- “Do these also come by the hand of God?”
- I must speak carefully and reverently here.
- but all things are not good any more.
- Some of God’s good creation has lost their excellence at the fall of Satan and of man.
- This evil in and around me makes the life of God’s children difficult.
- Do I believe that this is also in God’s control?
- Or does Satan have free reign to do as he pleases?
- There is no creature, neither Satan nor man, who can act in a manner outside of God’s control.
- God did not create sin and evil,
- but He certainly controls them both.
- and He softens the heart of whomever He wills (cf. Rom 9).
- This becomes clear in the case of Pharaoh.
- Pharaoh was completely in God’s power.
- He could do only that which God allowed him to do.
- God did not cause him to sin, yet God certainly controlled that sin.
- God prevents both Satan and evil men from having free reign in their work of destruction.
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