Autumn here in Italy is a special season, one of my favorites! In small towns, like ours, the smell of wood smoke hangs in the crisp, clean air. Grapes are fermenting into fine wines. And olives, pressed into green gold, glisten in their bottles.
But as an American, my thoughts turn to Thanksgiving. Even though we no longer “celebrate” the holiday now that our kids grown and gone and Hubby works. I still consider it the greatest “American” holiday!
We have so much to be thankful for. For all that has happened and all that the Lord has done. And for all that could have happened, but never did. Day by day, year after year, we’ve seen His provision and His care – and His Providence.
God’s Providence
We’ve seen His Providence in the good times and the bad.
In the book and movie Anne of Green Gables, the elderly Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert (brother and sister), from Prince Edward Island in Canada, had decided to adopt a boy. Matthew, taciturn but sensitive, had a bad heart and would need help.
By mistake, the orphanage sent Anne, a young girl who thought she had finally found a home and family. Matthew was immediately taken with the strange little girl. But the haughty and pragmatic Marilla, who thought a girl was useless to them, wanted to send Anne back to the orphanage.
But they decided to keep Anne and fell in love with her. And in the end, Until Matthew said it was a lucky mistake that the orphanage sent Anne instead of the boy they wanted. To which Marilla replied, “It wasn’t luck. It was providence. He knew we needed her.”
Curious, since I’d never thought much about providence before, I looked it up. “What,” I wondered, “is the difference between provision and providence?” And I learned that this seldom-used word makes all the difference in the world.
Provision is having our basic needs met, and that’s a wonderful thing. But providence goes so much deeper. Provision can come from any source. And with diligent work and prudence, we can even become the source of our own provision.
Only God provides providence
But providence is a supply that can only come from the hand of God.
It indicates God’s special care and guidance. And His foresight in directing the affairs of the universe or His benevolent care of us.
It’s God doing what only He can do. Providing in ways that show His sovereignty. Preventing what He knows must be stopped. And as with the Cuthberts, sending not what we want, but what He knows we need.
Chills run down my spine as I think about that scene. “He knew we needed her.” I’ve had many moments like that in my life, and I’m sure you have too. Times when we’ve clearly seen the hand of God at work. Him knowing what only He could know, doing what only He could do.
Recognizing providence
But how can we recognize providence even in troubled times?
The world is facing troubled times of war and death, disease and poverty. Evil grows stronger every day. How can we see God at work in a world that has gone so wrong? And even learn to give thanks in such times?
King David knew such fear and trouble. Scholars believe that he wrote many of his Psalms while in hiding, exhiled and abandoned. Including the well-known Psalms 23 and 27.
His own son had taken the throne. Enemies hunted and threatened from all sides. Yet even these Psalms overflow with thanksgiving, gratitude, and trust.
For David knew God’s providence. He had seen the Lord protect him and keep him safe, even in impossible circumstances. And he had learned that the Lord is a safe shelter DURING the storm, a strong fortress THROUGH times of distress. And a hiding place IN a world gone wrong. He knew that even if everyone else forsook him, the Lord wouldn’t. So he sang songs of praise and proclaimed that he always would.
Let’s always remember to thank God for His wonderful gift of providence – past, present and future. He always knows exactly what we need!
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
📷 Image credits: pumpkins; man praying; gift.
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