Be joyful in God's providence for us

Providence.
It's a word with a world of meanings.
It's not just about the fact that God controls and plans things, but also that He provides for our needs.

Many people are familiar with the beloved verse in Romans:

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, NIV)

Don't get me wrong; I'm not espousing a prosperity gospel here . . . there are actually two conditions in that verse - loving God and having responded to the Spirit's call -- and it doesn't say that when He works for good it's going to be Easy Street, either.
That's all another story....
For today, let's concentrate on "all things." It means "all things," OK? (Grin) Bad things, and good things, lovely warm and fuzzy things, and hurtful things, too.
God is never out of control. Satan can do "his darnedest," as my grandma used to say, but even the evil that seems to be tearing the world apart is working toward a final purpose.
We can't see it yet.
But we know that God allows things for a reason and that His plans are good.
It must be frustrating for Satan. (Grin)
No matter what he does, he finds that his schemes and plans are stopped, and something good (must make him shudder) happens in the end.

We can see many examples of His providence in chapter six of Ezra . . . remember Tattenai? He sent his letter to Darius, expecting the king to respond with order to "stop the work at once!" God's providence is seen in the fact that they found the decree from eighteen years before amongst all the other laws, regulations and decrees from Cyrus' reign. And the scholars tell us that they didn't find it in Babylon - they located it in the fortress of Ecbatana, which was Cyrus' summer residence!

God's providence is also seen because Darius did not say, "shut it down! I don't care what the guy before me said..." Instead, he told Tattenai to leave them alone AND to fund the project:

Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there.7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop.9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, (Ezra 6:7-9)

And here's another remarkable part - he also provided motivation to make sure these things happened:

Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence. (v 11-12)

God's providential care is noted again when Ezra wrote that the Lord "had turned the heart of the king"  . . . in verse 22. He wanted to remind the people that it was God's hand that moved in the situation.
Solomon said much the same thing in Proverbs:

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water    that he channels toward all who please him. (Proverbs 21:1)

And in Daniel we read:

All the peoples of the earth    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases    with the powers of heaven    and the peoples of the earth.No one can hold back his hand    or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:35)

Let's apply this to our lives today . . .
Do we see (really see) and rejoice in God's providential care for us in every small thing? Not just the major things that happen to us?
Jesus told us that even a sparrow that falls to the ground is known by the Father. He told us that God knows the number of hairs on our heads (and as I age, I'm sure He is kept busy by that changing number). No sacrilege intended, just sayin'. 
Because of that, we should not fear.
We should trust Him.

 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31)

Let's end our study today with a favorite and familiar Psalm. This will surely remind us to rejoice in God's providence for us:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord,    the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—    he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—    the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—    he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going    both now and forevermore.  (Psalm 121)

Amen!
Thank you, Lord!