“Oh, the hand of Providence is reaching out to help us on our way. ” These words from a popular Christian song from a few years ago seem to sum up many people’s understanding of the Providence of God. We look at situations that seem to help us out and gladly give Providence its just glory.

Often we hear of stories about near misses or occasions that might be interpreted as coincidence and immediately we taut the Providence of God in gratitude of this brush with a miracle. Lost keys delay a trip and a person misses an accident or plane crash. Situations like car trouble occurring just as you pull into a gas station instead of on the interstate or finding out about a job opening, that you eventually get, as you casually surf the net are just a few examples people might give for proof that the hand of Providence is our ever present help.

But perhaps there is more to consider as we selectively praise God for things that seem to get us out of jams. God’s first and foremost purpose is to bring glory to Himself. There can be nothing He loves more then Himself, His purposes and His own plan. We say He is sovereign and that nothing escapes the understanding of our God. If this is true then it is also the hand of providence that leaves us with heartache. It is the hand of providence that takes a boy’s father before he is even old enough to know him. It causes or allows wars and rumors of wars. Sickness, death and tragedy are all parts of the hand of providence. It is a hard truth that is sometimes ignored in favor of shading the negative as an attack of the enemy. But even the demons are the unwitting servants of the Almighty.

“For all things work together for good….” Looking at things through an understanding that God does things for His best interest gives hope in all situations, and we know that hope does not disappoint. It is this trust in God’s understanding of what is best that allows the hymn writer to say ‘it is well with my soul.’