“Looking Through”

One of the greatest blessings Christians have, one that makes a clear distinction from those who have little or no faith in God, is believing in the providence of God.  While the world believes in coincidence or fate or luck, Christians trust in a sovereign God who has the power and willingness to work anything out for the good of those who belong to him (Rom. 8:28).  Christians have the ability to “look through” any event or situation and see God working for them on the other side.  Wow!  That’s what I call an awesome blessing!

“Looking through” our current situation is another way of saying that we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).  Christians don’t let the everyday events of life prevent them from seeing a loving God who is constantly working in their behalf.  To illustrate this, consider Joseph.  As a teenager, he was ridiculed and eventually sold as a slave by his own brothers.  Obviously, such a traumatic event should scar him for life, right? Later he was put in prison for being morally upright.  Surely, that would plunge him into victim mentality, right?  Actually, Joseph endured many events that would destroy most people – but not him.  He had faith in God.  He could “look through” both the good and the evil situations in his life and see his God working things out for his good.  Near the end of his life he said to the very brothers who so wickedly sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20).  While his brothers lived in fear and shame at what they had done to him, Joseph could live in peace despite every difficult situation.  He had the faith to “look through” and see a God who was working for his good. 

What a relief it is to know that we don’t have to controlled by the difficulties of life!  If you can’t find a job, “look through” and see that God may be preparing you for something greater later on.  If people take advantage of you or if you are treated harshly, “look through” and trust that God will work something good out of it.  If your prayers are not answered when and how you had hoped, “look through” with patience and trust that God, who is omniscient and omnipotent, will always do what’s best for you.  If people you love disappoint you, “look through” and trust in the God who never disappoints.

Satan would love nothing more than for Christians to take their eyes off of God and focus only on the harsh, difficult, evil situations in life.  But God wants us to be people of faith who can “look through” and see his hand at work for us.

Joe Chesser