My Father’s World: Trusting God in Difficult Times

After a very successful career in nursing, pharmacy, and teaching at the university level, Dr. Kaufman also attained a Master of Theology degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Today he serves on Dr. Floyd’s staff team at Pinnacle Hills. A prolific reader, Dr. Kaufman has authored numerous articles on topics in medicine and theology.

I count it a privilege and honor to serve as Pastor Floyd’s guest blogger this week, and I trust that you’ll join me in praying for the Lord’s blessing to be upon him and Jeana while they are away…

Incidentally, did you know that by praying such a prayer you are acknowledging God’s providence? “Providence” is a word that is notable mainly for its absence in contemporary discussion. Nevertheless, it is among the most important and practical of all Christian beliefs. Join me as we “blow the dust off” and consider its significance for our lives today…

Providence is the biblical teaching that God “provides” for and governs the world and everything in it. The Scriptures clearly teach that God’s providence is “all inclusive,” extending over the universe at large (Ps. 103:19; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11), all the way down to the feeding of the birds (Matt. 6:26), the fall of a sparrow (Matt. 10:29), and the number of hairs on our heads (Matt. 10:30; a rapidly descending number in my case!). Of course, for most of us it is easy to have faith in God’s providence when things are going well. But when things get tough, it can be more challenging. Can we still be confident that God is in control, even in the midst of difficulty? Absolutely!

Lessons from the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). Joseph was a man whose jealous brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery, sending his life into a seeming tailspin that would last for years. We don’t have space to go into much detail, but Joseph’s life is living proof that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). So when it comes to handling difficulties in life, what can we learn from the life of Joseph?

• Joseph never lost faith in God’s love. Sometimes in the midst of difficult trials it is easy to begin questioning God’s love or concern for us. We wonder, “Has God abandoned me?” But Joseph knew that God loved him and had not abandoned him.
• Joseph kept his integrity. In the midst of his discouraging circumstances, Joseph could have said, “What’s the use? I might as well give up!” He could have tossed his integrity aside and slept with Potiphar’s wife. After all, it seemed that God had abandoned him.
• Joseph never lost confidence that God was in control of his circumstances. He told his brothers, “Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here…it was not you who sent me here, but God” (45:4-8). Did you catch that? Joseph knew God was in control all along!
• Joseph didn’t let his trials make him bitter. After Joseph’s father Jacob died, his brothers said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil we did to him” (50:15).  Instead, he showed them kindness, reminding them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (50:19-20).

Are you facing difficulties and wondering “why?” Do you wonder if God has abandoned you? Take courage: He has not abandoned you. But the question remains: will you trust Him in spite of your circumstances?  The Christian believer discovers in all things, not chance or fate, but the leading of God’s fatherly hand–even in difficult times. Armed with this knowledge, we are energized to face the challenges of life and sing with confidence:

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet.