God's Providence in Every Detail

Today while absorbing Acts through my headphones at work, I was comforted by how clearly Scripture shows God working through even the setbacks and difficulties.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). This verse isn't promising that everything will be pleasant, but rather that God uses everything—even painful circumstances—for ultimate good.

In Acts, we see the early church facing persecution, yet this very hardship spread the gospel further: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). What seemed like a devastating setback actually fulfilled Christ's commission to take the gospel "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Joseph's story provides another powerful example of God's providence. After being sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph could declare to his brothers: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20).

Even under the curse of sin that affects our world, God's redemptive grace is constantly at work. His timeline isn't always our timeline, but His purposes never fail. As Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."