providence revisited

Back to the year-long learning theme of God's sovereignty and providence.....

"The primary purpose is for us to become so convinced of ...[the sovereignty, love, and wisdom of God]...that we appropriate them in our daily circumstances, that we learn to trust God in the midst of our pain, whatever form it may take" (19).

"God's providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of His people" (23).

Jerry Bridges' Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2008).

New book, new post :-)

New school year, new book, new post - how exciting! :)

I recently purchased Jerry Bridges' Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2008). A foundational premise is that so often it is easier to obey God than to trust Him, especially amidst difficult situations, but that trust is just as essential and God-glorifying. I appreciate the call to examine our hearts and to again look at the wisdom and the sovereignty of God in various spheres of Creation, based on the Word.

Speaking to the reason why it is sometimes hard to trust through difficult times:

"Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God's revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God. We are always coping with the unknown.

"Yet it is just as important to trust God as it is to obey Him....In order to trust God, we must always view our adverse circumstances through the eyes of faith, not of sense....It is only from the Scriptures, applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that we receive the grace to trust God in adversity" (16).

May we obey AND trust our great God and Father!