We may know that God is in control over everything and everyone. We may understand that God rules and oversees the world. But where we may falter is truly grasping how God is actively involved and at work in His creation. Because of this, we may view God as merely a passive observer of our lives and become plagued with questions such as:
Is God really at work in my life?
What meaning is there in the mundane?
Why did God allow this to happen?
This is where the doctrine of God’s providence can provide us with much needed comfort and confidence. It can help us see how the almighty and powerful God who created all things is also a deeply personal God. He has a plan and purpose for everything that happens in our lives.
Now, God’s providence is a profound theological concept that we will barely scratch the surface of here in this blog. But we shouldn’t let this intimidate us or keep us from trying to understand it, because God’s providence gives purpose to everything we do.
If you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can be certain that God is actively at work in your life—even in the ordinary moments—and will continue to do so for the rest of your life.
What is God’s Providence?
To understand God’s providence, we need to first explore its meaning. The Westminster Shorter Catechism helps us define providence in this way: “God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.” This definition speaks to God’s divine care and guidance over all creation. It suggests that God’s providence refers to how God preserves and governs His purposes for creation.
God’s work of preservation through His providence means that God actively maintains His creation. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Christ sustains all things by His powerful word and Colossians 1:17 tells us that in Him all things hold together. God preserves His creation by protecting it and keeping it stable—He keeps all things existing. We see this in our lives as He gives us breath each and every day. If God were to stop sustaining us, we would immediately perish (Job 34:14–15). Therefore, we are completely and utterly dependent on Him.
But God not only upholds all things, He also directs everything to its appointed end. This is what we mean by governance. God reigns over human affairs and works within the laws of nature to see that His purposes are carried out. Every event, circumstance, and person is a part of God’s intricate plan—nothing is left to chance. God works out everything according to His will so that ultimately, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow (Ephesians 1:11; Philippians 2:10–11). In His divine governance, everything, including our lives, finds its place within His eternal plan.
Why Is it Important to Understand Divine Providence?
Through studying the doctrine of God’s providence we see how our Creator is also a personal and loving God who cares for us. God didn’t just create the world and abandon it. Rather, He is personally involved in every facet of His creation. He oversees and sustains everything according to His eternal plan. This means He is present in and through the events and decisions of our lives. He is upholding and directing our lives—and this should give us great security and assurance.
The truth of God’s providence reveals that there is value in everything we do—whether in the small or big, the mundane or extraordinary. God is actively at work as we change diapers, chase down our children in the grocery store, work long hours, wash the dishes and do laundry, weed the garden, and so forth. We can be confident of this because God works all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Everything we do from the least to the greatest contributes to God’s eternal plans and purposes for our lives.
Therefore, we can release our need for control and entrust our future to God’s hands. There is great comfort and peace in knowing that He orchestrates all things—even our pain and suffering—to align with His divine plan for us. Nothing can thwart His purposes; for we can be confident that He will complete the good work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). Everything we do has value because God uses it all to conform us into the image of His Son and direct us to eternal life.
God’s providence means that everything we do has meaning.
Notes:
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The Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Additional Resources:
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The Prayer Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practice of Prayer |
Good Christian Girl | Hope in Christ When You Feel Like You Don't Measure Up |
Awakening Wonder | Advent Bible Study |
Seasons Change, God Remains - The Daily Grace Co. Blog |
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