remarkable
Many people have had remarkable experiences during their lifetimes. My grandparents were of that generation that endured many winter storms and depressing times and yet they survived and lived to tell about those events. Others have yet to encounter situations or circumstances because they are either too young or inexperienced with life. Regardless, life does take us on a rollercoaster journey of pain, joy, fulfillment, disappointment, regret and positive choices. The thing is, we can attribute our life events and choices to either coincidence or providence that got or will get us to where we need to be.
Coincidence is that remarkable concurrence of circumstances. We just happen to have that five dollar bill in our pocket when we were short a few dollars on a purchase as we stood at the till at the coffee shop. Coincidence is when my brother was on holidays in Australia and ran into our aunt and uncle at the hotel he was staying at. We see examples of coincidence in so many movies where the plot is manipulated. The boy meets girl scenario or the train robbery timing. What a coincidence we say!
On the other hand, there is providence, the foreseen care and direction of God or as some prefer, fate or the gods to control people’s lives. But Divine Providence is taking the good, the bad and the ugly and making the person or situation blessed, orchestrated by the Divine. There are countless examples in life and certainly in the bible that demonstrate this concept. Take Joseph for example. His brothers were jealous, his father showed favoritism, the slave traders made money off of him, his employer’s wife tried to seduce him, the king’s cup-bearer forgot him and he endured years in a prison. And yet, he and his family were blessed, reconnected and saved because of Joseph’s eventual position. That’s Divine intervention or providence!
Divine Providence - our God - takes everything and works all things together by plan, not coincidence for those who believe and trust in Him. It’s not a coincidence that He is in control of the universe and our lives. Can you think of instances in your life where there was only one clear reason that things happened as they did? I can because I believe in miracles. It’s God’s hand.
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