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Examples of God's Providence in the Lives of Believers

God's providence refers to His ongoing preservation and governance of all things, working through secondary causes to achieve His purposes [6]. This divine oversight extends to the natural world, animal creation, and the affairs of humanity, including the lives of individuals and their free actions [6]. Believers often experience God's providence through His mercy, grace, and the specific ways He guides and sustains them.

One significant aspect of God's providence in the lives of believers is the demonstration of His mercy and patience. The Apostle Paul, for instance, describes his own conversion as an example of God's perfect patience, intended to encourage others to believe [1, 2]. Paul, who considered himself the "worst of sinners," received mercy so that Christ Jesus could display His patience through him [2]. This act of mercy is a direct outflow of God's favor [4]. Believers can trust in God's loving kindness, finding their hearts rejoicing in His salvation [5].

God's providence also manifests in the abundant grace He bestows upon His followers. The grace of the Lord is described as "exceeding abundant with faith and love" in Christ Jesus [8]. This grace is not merely a concept but a tangible gift that abounds to many through Jesus Christ [7]. Those who are faithful with what they have been given receive abundant grace [16]. Believers praise God for richly blessing them with His forgiving grace [17]. This grace, mercy, and peace are blessings for those who live in truth and love, demonstrating their identity as God's children through their actions [13]. The effects of salvation, provided by Christ, are mediated through the proclamation of the Good News [11].

The happiness of saints in this life is rooted in God and found in the ways of wisdom [10]. This happiness is derived from fearing God, trusting in Him, obeying His commands, and having hope in the Lord [10]. God's favor leads to mercy, spiritual life, and wisdom [4]. He prospers those who fear Him, does them good, delivers them, comforts them, and grants them an inheritance [3]. The Lord strengthens those who trust in Him and preserves them [4].

Believers are called to wait upon God, recognizing Him as the God of providence and salvation [9]. They wait for His mercy, pardon, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises [9]. This waiting is an act of faith, leading to the hope of righteousness [9]. The grace of faith is considered a vital preservative against apostasy, and the lives of Old Testament figures serve as examples of those who lived by faith, enduring and achieving extraordinary things through its strength [18]. David, for example, acknowledged God's justice in his afflictions and earnestly petitioned for God's merciful kindness, recognizing that all support comes from divine compassion [14]. Experiencing God's mercy, which surpasses all earthly blessings, prompts believers to offer praise [15]. The fruits of divine grace are exemplified in a believer's life through their avoidance of wickedness and their commitment to God's worship [12].

Sources

  1. 1 Timothy “1 Timothy 1:16 (NASB) — Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
  2. I Timothy “I Timothy 1:16 (BSB) — But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Joy of God Over His People, The — Greatness of, described -- Zep 3:17. On account of their Repentance. -- Lu 15:7,10. Faith. -- Heb 11:5,6. Fear of him. -- Ps 147:11. Praying to him. -- Pr 15:8. Hope in his mercy. -- Ps 147:11. Meekness. -- Ps 149:4. Uprightness. -- 1Ch 29:17; Pr 11:20. Leads to him Prosper them. -- De 30:9. Do them good. -- De 28:63; Jer 32:41. Deliver them. -- 2Sa 22:20. Comfort them. -- Isa 65:19. Give them the inheritance. -- Nu 14:8. Illustrated -- Isa 62:5; Lu 15:23,24. Exemplified Solomon. -- 1Ki 10:9.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Favour of God, The — Christ the special object of -- Lu 2:52. Is the source of Mercy. -- Isa 60:10. Spiritual life. -- Ps 30:5. Spiritual wisdom leads to -- Pr 8:35. Mercy and truth lead to -- Pr 3:3,4. Saints Obtain. -- Pr 12:2. Encompassed by. -- Ps 5:12. Strengthened by. -- Ps 30:7. Victorious through. -- Ps 44:3. Preserved through. -- Job 10:12. Exalted in. -- Ps 89:17. Sometimes tempted to doubt. -- Ps 77:7. Domestic blessings traced to -- Pr 18:22. Disappointment of enemies an assured evidence of -- Ps 41:11. Given in answer to prayer -- Job 33:26. Pray for -- ”
  5. Psalms “But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. -- Psalms 13:5”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
  7. Romans “But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. -- Romans 5:15”
  8. King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 1:14 — And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Happiness of Saints In This Life — Is in God -- Ps 73:25,26. Only found in the ways of wisdom -- Pr 3:17,18. Described by Christ in the beatitudes -- Mt 5:3-12. Is derived from Fear of God. -- Ps 128:1,2; Pr 28:14. Trust in God. -- Pr 16:20; Php 4:6,7. The words of Christ. -- Joh 17:13. Obedience to God. -- Ps 40:8; Joh 13:17. Salvation. -- De 33:29; Isa 12:2,3. Hope in the Lord. -- Ps 146:5. Hope of glory. -- Ro 5:2. God being their Lord. -- Ps 144:15. God being their help. -- Ps 146:5. Praising God. -- Ps 135:3. Their mutual love. -- Ps 133:1. Divine chastening. --”
  11. 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 1:10: 1:10 God’s gift of grace has been made . . . plain in history by Christ Jesus (see Rom 16:26; 1 Pet 1:20). • by the appearing: See study note on 1 Tim 6:14. • broke the power of death: See 1 Cor 15:26; 2 Thes 2:8; Heb 2:14. • the way to life: See 2 Tim 1:1; 1 Cor 15:53-54; Titus 1:2. • through the Good News: Salvation is provided by Christ, but its effects are mediated through proclamation of the Good News (see Titus 1:2-3; Rom 1:16-17; 10:14-15).”
  12. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 26:4: As exemplified by the fruits of divine grace, presented in his life, especially in his avoiding the wicked and his purposes of cleaving to God's worship.”
  13. 2 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 John 1:3: 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace are blessings of which John is confident for those who live in truth and love, and who demonstrate by their actions that they are God’s children.”
  14. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:76: Here is, 1. An earnest petition to God for his favour. Those that own the justice of God in their afflictions (as David had done, Psa 119:75) may, in faith, and with humble boldness, be earnest for the mercy of God, and the tokens and fruits of that mercy, in their affliction. He prays for God's merciful kindness (Psa 119:76), his tender mercies, Psa 119:77. He can claim nothing as his due, but all his supports under his affliction must come from mere mercy and compassion to one in misery, one in want. "Let these come to me," that is, "the evidence of them (clea”
  15. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 63:3: Experiencing God's mercy, which exceeds all the blessings of life, his lips will be opened for his praise (Psa 51:15).”
  16. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 25:29: 25:29 God gives abundant grace to those who are faithful with what they have already been given (see 13:12).”
  17. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:6: 1:6 Believers praise God, who has richly blessed them with his forgiving grace. • his dear Son: Literally the beloved, a Messianic title for Jesus; see Matt 3:17; 17:5; Col 1:13.”
  18. Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 11 (introduction): The apostle having, in the close of the foregoing chapter, recommended the grace of faith and a life of faith as the best preservative against apostasy, he how enlarges upon the nature and fruits of this excellent grace. I. The nature of it, and the honour it reflects upon all who live in the exercise of it (Heb 11:1-3). II. The great examples we have in the Old Testament of those who lived by faith, and died and suffered extraordinary things by the strength of his grace (v. 4-38). And, III. The advantages that we have in the gospel for the exercise ”
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