God’s sovereignty, his rule over all, is the bedrock certainty for a proper theology of suffering. However, his sovereignty alone is not enough: we must maintain its connection to his goodness and wisdom. If we do not maintain this connection, we lose our perspective of God as the one who intimately cares for his creation, and we thereby undermine hope. Theologians refer to this connection as providence, which is one of the most comforting doctrines in the Bible.
What Is Providence?
By providence we mean God employs his sovereign power and wisdom to continuously preserve every part of his creation and guide it toward his intended purpose. Sometimes people misinterpret sovereignty as a cold, sterile, and lifeless doctrine, but it is nothing of the sort. In his gracious providence, God carries out his sovereign rule in loving wisdom and attentive care. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe, to be sure, but he is also kind and a tender Father toward those who place their faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. This brings us great comfort when we are in the midst of suffering that appears to have no purpose or end
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