The Comfort Of God's Providence预览

Have you ever felt like Job? Job, the main character of that Old Testament book who lost everything?

Like Job, you may scratch your head and whisper quietly enough so that no one around you hears your fear. Like Job, you may wonder where God even is. Like Job, you may mumble quietly, “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him” (Job 23:8–9 NIV).

Job felt alone. Job felt forgotten. Job felt forsaken by God Himself.

Have you ever felt like Job? If we were to be honest, we all have. It’s human to feel this way. God’s seen it before. He knows our frame. He knows we are just modified dust (Psalm 103:14). It is in those times when we just want God to show up with some skin on so He can let us know He is still there. It is in those times when we reach for Him, but like the wind, He escapes our grasp. It is in those times when His invisible hand eludes us even while His words continue to urge us to keep walking the path He has called us on. But do we take the next step? Do we walk in faith? Or do we refuse to move forward, wanting instead to hear our own version of the whispered words we’ve read on the dusty pages of Scripture where God lets it be known He is there? Words such as:

“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4 CSB)

“I will go before you and will level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” (Isaiah 45:2-3 CSB)

“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We long to hear something like that. Anything, really. Assurances from God to let us know that He knows where we are and where He is taking us. Assurances that we should not be afraid, but rather have courage and rest in His presence and power—even when it seems as if He is nowhere to be found.

If you have ever felt like that, my friend, you are not alone. In fact, it is such a common occurrence that God speaks a lot about it in His Word. There is even a theology tied to His invisibility. It is a theology known as providence.

The providence of God—a doctrinal subset underneath the overarching doctrine known as sovereignty—is such a critical spiritual truth that knowing and living by it can radically transform your life. When you are able to discern how God providentially works in history as well as in the present, you are able to move along the pathways of life with a purpose and intention that will propel you forward. Even in those moments, days, weeks, months or even years when you don’t seem to see God, feel God or hear from God at all, you will know that He is pulling the strings behind the scenes. He is the Great Puppet Master, directing your divine destiny on this stage called life. Knowing this will enable you to make choices according to His will and kingdom agenda, rather than out of your own reaction for self-preservation or control.

If  you would like to hear more on the providence of God and the transformation it brings, click here  to download a complimentary sermon from Dr. Tony Evans, as our gift to you. We want to thank B&H Publishers for these excerpts from Tony Evans' book "Pathways: From Providence to Purpose," published in 2019.