Trust...

"We're just trusting God knows best..."

"It was the providence of God!"

"Well, you know, God is sovereign, so..."

How often do you, as a Christian throw around vocabulary such as "sovereign," "providence," or "trust"? But what are you saying when you glibly spout, or desperately cling to those truths? Are you saying that you trust God now, in this momentous calamity? Are you saying that you see His providence- but only in the good things? Do we only say, "God is sovereign" to those who are hurting- lightly believing a truth when pain affects others, but not ourselves.

I often trust God to fulfill His end goal in my life (to conform me to the likeness of His Son). But I rarely trust God to intervene on a daily, personal, minute level to establish the little steps that are needed to help me reach that end. I view God as intervening on the big ticket issues, but even those, I only like to give Him credit for the really good things.

"Isn't God good because He..."

"I got a promotion/good grade/new friend- look at God's providence!"

But God is not inserting Himself merely at the cataclysmic moments of my life. His presence, His sovereignty, His orchestration is there constantly- working in tandem with mine (and other's) free will, to slowly shape me into the person who is best designed for His glory. His path and thoughts are not mine, so I cannot fully understand how He is working even through the seemingly helpless, pointless, black moments of my life (Rom. 11:33, Isa. 55:9). But I know He is doing this- conforming me not only to the likeness of His Son, but also to the person who can best glorify Him here on this earth. (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 2:10)

"We either unconsciously or deliberately imply that God intervenes at specific points in our lives, but is largely only a spectator most of the time... God's providence is His constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of his people."

**************
Notes:
- Material drawn from "Trusting God- Even when life hurts" (Jerry Bridges)

Additional Scripture
- Psalm 31:15
- Psalm 147:8-9
- Acts 17:24-28
- II Corinthians 9:10