Last night, we jumped back into our Sunday Seminars at Palmetto Shores Church. We covered the doctrine of Providence. Our article on providence states, “God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet, not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.” This article is so helpful because it teaches us that God is sovereignly in control over all things at all times. This must be so because all things that ever exist are completely dependent upon God.
The Heidelberg Catechism beautifully explains the significance of providence. Question number 27 says, “Question: What do you understand by the providence of God? Answer: The almighty and ever-present power of God by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand.”
If nothing is by chance but by God’s fatherly hand, then we should trust God’s faithfulness in all things. We should accept where we are, who we are, and what we have with gratitude. Ultimately, the truth of providence leads us to a life of contentment where God’s care for us dispels worry and anxiety because we know that He will give us exactly what we need. Praise the God who moves history forward according to His good plans and purposes!
The Lord Bless You
