When I started this blog my intent was to post on a regular basis. At first this seemed plausible, but I soon realized that you cannot write about what you do not fully understand. The more I practice CP, the less I seem to know. And what I have learned needs time to percolate and be lived out before I try to communicate in words that which my brain can barely comprehend. Nonetheless, today, on my way to work I came to the realization that maybe I could write about a couple of things. One of those things is Divine Providence. The title of this blog is the title of a book by Jean Pierre de Caussade, a French Jesuit priest from the 18th century. I would highly recommend this book to anyone trying to understand God's will for their life.
According to de Caussade, all life events fall into one of two camps. Either an event is the direct will of God, or God at least allows it to occur. If we did not believe this about God then he could be neither sovereign nor omnipotent. If we believe this, then we have to come to the inevitable conclusion that God allows bad things to happen, even to those who love Him. Sorry to be the one to break this to you if you did not already know it, and yet it would seem that much of Christendom is ignorant of this fact despite believing that God's perfect Son suffered and died at the hands of cruel men.
So we have that basic premise out in the open. What does it mean for us? It means that everything that happens is either directly or indirectly the will of God. Now this is probably an oversimplification, but the point is that we do not really have to worry about doing the will of God. We live and move and have our being in it. God is in and through everything that happens. Nothing happens without his foreknowledge and consent.
How should we live in light of this knowledge? This is a great question. I would say that it is THE question. The answer is both simple and easy but difficult to carry out. It is difficult because we view life in a worldly way. The worldview is to avoid suffering and pain, and when we are confronted with it we try to deaden its effect with medication and distractions. Christ Jesus embraced suffering and pain because he knew the outcome and he knew the One who loved him. So the idea is to embrace the things that make us uncomfortable, even things that we do not think we can bear up under. Suffering, pain, persecution, all of these things comprise what is means to take up our cross daily. This may be a simple approach, but how is it easy? Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” It is easy because Jesus makes it easy. I we try to embrace pain and suffering on our own, we will quickly be overcome. If we know that our heavenly Father loves us and wants the best for us, we can bear up under the load because of faith. The knowledge that God knows my suffering and will limit it and desires it for my benefit is the grace I need to bear it. When we fight against pain and suffering we thwart the work that God is trying to accomplish in us. Have you ever gone through the same thing over and over thinking it is going to be different just to come to the end and the outcome is the same. As we embrace pain and suffering we receive the grace of Christ to endure it. "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction." Job 36:15
What if I do not want to suffer? Sorry, not an option. You have options when it comes to suffering. Avoiding it is not one of them. One can either embrace God's Providence and suffering, or you can fight against it. James says we should consider trials as pure joy, as it builds perseverance and completes us. Fighting against the Providence of God brings sorrow, and bitterness and ultimately the loss of our faith.
The Father loves us with a love without limit. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, according to His Purpose." Rom 8:28
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