How God HELPS those
who choose to ‘walk with him’ in life.
God’s gift of PROVIDENCE
is freely given to us.
More evidence of God’s presence.
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1. INTRODUCTION
You can read the introductory article to this section of the website, “God’s presence in our lives” before going on, if you have not already. It explains the various methods, available to us, that we can use to engage with God in our lives. And how our lives can be changed ‘for the better’ as a result! It also tries to put those available methods, and our overall relationship with God, in perspective.
(To read about the ‘who’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ of this website please click here.)
The previous subsection, “God’s guiding hand” in this “God in life” section of the website, explains how God tries to influence our lives positively through his guidance, even though we may not have asked for it. The final article “Asking for God’s guidance” in that subsection offered advice on how to actually ‘request’, and then trust, his guidance when faced with big decisions in life.
Let us now get to the subject of God’s assistance; his ‘helping hand’ at work in our lives. It can usually be recognised, when we DO follow his guidance (as mentioned above). That is, when we do obediently walk with God. At that stage of growing our faith, we are on track with the so-called ‘will of God‘. Of course we should also be trying hard to follow the Bible’s advice in life as well. Yes, we should be faithful.
God is always there in those times, maybe even when life’s ‘pressures’ face us, ready to help us:
For I am the Lord, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
[Isaiah 41:13]
2. HIS LOVING HELP
Firstly though, I will say that even after choosing the right path in life, through accepting God’s guidance, it is not always going to be easy. There may well be hard work ahead. But the results should be satisfying!
Certainly, from my long term experience and evaluation, if you have recognised the way God ‘wants you to go’, and you DO go with that in trust, then he will often assist by supporting that right path. That is out of his love for you. As such, God’s ‘helping hand’, also known as “providence”, is often received when we willingly follow his guidance.
Of course this offers us further ‘belief building’ evidence of his presence in our lives. Quotes from the Old Testament:
The Lord himself goes before you
and will be with you;
he will never leave you;
nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged.
[Deuteronomy 318]
… in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
[Proverbs 3:6]
3. HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER
Now, I do understand it will take a few positive results from this kind of stuff to convince you it is the ‘real deal’.
But yes, God did make promises in the Bible that he would help us in this way, so please relax into it. I am pretty confident that you will eventually be pleasantly surprised. Of course, you should also note his loving assistance through other available methods of engaging with him in life. And many methods are laid out in this “God in life” section of the website. See the Menu Bar above please.
At times, through providence, you really should recognise a ‘parting of the waters’. I mean that clearly opens the ‘appropriate’ path before you (‘the way God wants you to go’). If you are committed to a certain direction in your education or career, home or work projects, journey of faith, helping the family or doing good deeds for others etc … and if that direction is ‘just’ and appropriate for you in God’s view (i.e. ‘the will of God‘) … then he will remove barriers to assist you.
Based on my experiences, it WILL simply ‘all come together’ for you. This really is the stuff that ‘divine providence’ is made of.
4. PROVIDENCE IS VERY SPECIAL
It is also noteworthy that providence, or God’s helping hand, is even more precious than his guidance.
I believe that while God does try to guide everyone, unbeliever and believer alike, he only gives a helping hand (providence) to those who at least try to have ‘faith and trust in him’; those who have chosen to genuinely follow his guidance or directives.
Of course, that additional assistance could not be recognised by an atheist, even if God did give it, because their minds are just not open to it. (And look, I understand that because I’ve been there myself as an ‘unbeliever’.)
It certainly reassures us ‘faithful’ Christians that he will lovingly support us where possible on our path of life, that is when we willingly ‘walk with him’. I explain in a later article, “Trusting God day to day” how this loving care and assistance is available on a daily basis, if we are prepared to actually do just that: walk in trust with him. From the New Testament:
And we know that in all things
God works for the good
of those who love him,
who have been called
according to his purpose.
[Romans 8:28]
5. FOCUS ON THE GOAL
As practising Christians, we should really make the effort to recognise God’s hand at work in our lives. Its power really does again clearly raise it above sheer luck. So when following God’s guidance in a certain direction, his gifts of providence could include: unexpected assistance, unplanned meetings with people who can help, and, material things just arriving without any prior knowledge. And each of them can help us towards that intended goal.
5.1 Expect the unexpected at times
It can even happen through expected events ‘falling through’, temporarily or even permanently. Later in hindsight it will be obvious that the unexpected events that happened instead actually suited the end result we did expect.
The intended end-result of our God-supported ‘goal’ is the point to focus on after all, not the ‘road’ on which we are travelling at any one time. We just re-adjust our efforts as either ‘doors are squeezed’ or ‘doors opened wide’ by God. We believers get better at walking in step; ‘in sync’ with him as we get used to it over time.
So, when trying to use providence to our advantage in our endeavours, it is just a matter of ‘carefully’ following God’s guidance. That is, not getting overly excited when we are ‘on a roll’, or getting stressed when things are not exactly going according to plan. The hard part, of course, comes at that stage …
5.2 Relax and trust him
As absolutely sure as I am, about God’s role in this regard … from my experience with it … I can still feel uneasy at times during some of those situations. Especially when unexpected ‘hiccups’ threaten a big project of mine. (I mean a project where God has actually given me guidance to follow.) You see, I am a bit of a ‘nervous Nelly’ at the best of times. Again and again, I get it! He does not let me down when I am following his will; his guidance. On these occasions, when the ‘old nerves’ kick-in, I very deliberately commit myself through trust to him. Just let all my worries fade away. And then normally, I relax and watch success come to pass!
So, the final words to you when things are not quite ‘on track’ when you know that you are following his guidance … just relax. Relax. Relax and hand over any problems to him, with as much faith and trust in him as you can find.
6. CONCLUSION
As with God’s guidance, his helping hand was for example a valuable aid to my career. And to so many other areas of my life as well.
All I can add is, please apply this stuff to your life’s big projects and goals when you believe he has approved of them. I will be surprised if all this stuff does not work for you too. Simply look to his guidance and THEN let him help you follow it!
We are simply trusting God’s loving support as we move forward in this manner.
Remember if, as a faithful Christian, God approves of what you are doing then he will be there with you during your life journey. God’s helping hand, as I have indicated, really does add great power and sanctity to our lives if we can get fully in touch with it. It all leads to greater contentment and a sense of purpose to our lives. If you have time, then have a look at ‘the big picture’ in the article, “What does faith offer us?”
The subsection, “Praying for things” follows this article under the Menu Bar heading “God in life”. Its first article has the same title, i.e. “How to pray for things“. And yes, prayers definitely do work too, if they are applied as the Bible explains.