God’s Purpose in Hardship

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In the lives of both Esther (Book of Esther) and Joseph (Genesis 37-50) we read about how the Lord orchestrated events to achieve His purposes. The events that unfolded in the lives of Esther and Joseph were challenging, but the Lord was faithful. Our heavenly Father is arranging the events of your life too, and in the process, you also are being tested by His Word. Your difficulties in no way indicate that the Lord is absent. Instead, He oversees the events of your life and works them to fulfill His long-term purpose for you.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, June 18, 2022.

The Strength of God

Often, the Lord allows us to come to the end of our own ability so that we clearly see His hand.  Otherwise, we would attribute success to our own doing.  God enables us to go on, fearlessly, boldly, and effectively.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, June, 16, 2020.

Goodness

The doctrine of providence teaches Christians that they are never in the grip of blind forces (fortune, chance, luck, fate); all that happens to them is divinely planned, and each event comes as a new summons to trust, obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for one’s spiritual and eternal good (Romans 8:28).

Commentary from Concise Theology, p. 56, by J. I. Packer.  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  1993

Providence

“Whatever our trust is most in, that is our God.”  Richard Sibbes