God's Providence Through Difficult Times

How does one understand God, who says He loves us and has complete control over the entire universe, yet allows seemingly “unjust” hardships for those whom he declares belong to Him? 

Why does God allow intense pain and suffering to occur for those whom He calls his own? 

If God loves us and is sovereign, then life’s disappointments and pains seem all the more harsh.

This conundrum has been debated and written about for millennia. Like a well-worn trail, generations of believers have traveled its all too familiar terrain. 

Yet, we must appreciate each hiker's experiences along life’s path as unique to that believer.  

But first, is God sovereign? Is He really supremely powerful and free from external control? The spectacularly vast universe and the planet on which we live readily testify to an all-powerful, amazingly artistic, and extremely intelligent sovereign creator. 

The Bible also testifies to God’s sovereignty, and to this God directs all things. 

God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). 
God transcends time(Isaiah 46:8-13). 
God does as he pleases (Psalms 135:6). 

Proverbs 19:21 adds that many are the plans of a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. He has power over life and death and has made everything, even the wicked, for His purposes (I Samuel 2:6-8 and Proverbs 16:4).

From these and a multitude of other verses and stories in the Bible, it is revealed that God is sovereign over all.

He alone establishes the direction of the trail, determines its level of difficulty, and knows what obstacles will be encountered. 

Does the sovereign God love us? 

Along our way, God (our trailblazer) provides areas for rest and nourishment and removes many of the obstacles that otherwise would make the journey unbearable. 

He provides trail markers to keep the hiker on the correct path. 

Yet, there are still plenty of roots and sharp rocks that can cause the hiker to stumble and many steep hills that can make a person weary.

The Bible states even through difficulties, God loves those whom he calls His own. He is with us during these difficult times. 

Romans 5:8 states that Christ showed His love for us in that, while we were still sinners, he died for us; In Romans 8:35-39, we see that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We’re comforted in Psalms 147:3 with the reminder that God heals the brokenhearted. Psalms 36:7 says He is our protector, and Psalms 86:5 promises His love will not run out. And in Psalms 118: 5-6, we rest on the truth that in our darkest hours, we can call on Him, and He will answer us. 

And as Christ says in Matthew 10:29-31, God knows even the smallest challenge in our lives.

How does one reckon life’s hardship with this God, who is all-powerful and directs all things toward His purpose, and cares for each of us? 

Life is full of much pain and sorrow. It is hard to understand God’s purposes, yet, like Job, a believer must trust God’s authority because He redeemed the believer from the destitute, painful path of sin. The testimony of God’s faithfulness is overwhelming. 

The writer of Lamentations (who experienced great sorrow) states in chapter 3 that God is in control of all things. He causes what seems to be harm, but actually provides deliverance. 

 Although nothing good seems to be happening, our Lord is our strength, and He makes us tread on high places (Habakkuk 3:17-19). As we see in 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9, God even allows difficulty in order to increase reliance on Him. Even though we can’t see the full picture,  God is working all things (even the most difficult) for the good for those called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

God is sovereign, and He loves His own. 

God's ways are much greater than ours–and His ways are anchored in Christ. Christ, who died on the cross for our redemption, did indeed rise from the grave and defeat death, which is the ultimate demonstration of sovereignty and love. 

His great love will not abandon us.

Hold fast. 

Brother or sister, know the path established by God does not lead to nowhere, and the destination is worth the pain and anguish of the moment. Along the way, we find that God is with us.

Christ tells us that in life, there will be much trouble, but He has overcome the world. He lightens our load and gently directs our steps.

He is a trustworthy guide for the trail.