Providence

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

There can hardly be more reassuring words in all of Scripture. These words, as someone has said, tell us that nothing happens without God’s willing it to happen, willing it to happen before it happens, and willing it to happen in the way that it happens. God is Lord over all things—space, time, and everything in between. Jesus, too, made a similar observation about fairly trivial matters: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:29–30). He went on to say that Christians should not fear, since we are of greater value than sparrows.

Inside Romans 8:28 there is security and peace and blessedness—the reassurance that God is watching over us every moment of every day. There are no black holes where everything falls apart, where He is not there to guide, provide, and direct. Outside Romans 8:28, there is only insecurity and chaos. Nothing is certain.

Some will find the doctrine of God’s sovereign control intimidating. Doesn’t it reduce us to automatons? Others will suggest that it encourages immorality—after all, if I sin, God made me do it, and I am not accountable for my thoughts and actions. Neither of these conclusions is true. God’s sovereignty is compatible with free agency, and thus we are held morally and spiritually accountable. We sin because we want to, not because we are forced into it against our will.

William Cowper (1731–1800), the psychologically troubled hymn-writer and friend of John Newton, weaved the doctrine of providence into one of my favorite hymns, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” In the first stanza, he imagines God as planting His footsteps in the sea (they cannot be seen) and riding on a storm (bringing trouble into our lives). How is the doctrine of providence comforting if God lies behind the storm?

Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill he treasures up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall breakin blessings on your head.

As the book of Job makes abundantly clear, we may not understand why sufferings befall us, but it is not important that we understand the mind of God. What is important is that we trust Him. And sometimes that is exactly the problem. We fail to take Him at His word and imagine some malpractice afoot. Christians should rejoice in tribulation, watching the Lord work out His mysterious purposes in our lives each day, in the certainty that He loves us in Christ and will never let us go (Rom. 5:3).

Article by Dr. Derek Thomas / Ligonier Ministries

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Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. He is author of many books, including Strength for the Weary and Let Us Worship God.