Learning to Be Content with God’s Mysterious Providence

If you are like me, I love to have a plan. If my family goes on vacation, I’m the type of person who prints out an itinerary. At the very least, I have it jotted down in the notes tab on my phone. When all goes according to plan, I am good. But the moment we hit a traffic jam—or the moment someone has to stop and use the restroom (when we just stopped)—I get a little bit agitated.

As we looked at Psalm 131 on Sunday, I was reminded that there are a lot of “traffic jams” that we hit in life—times when we don’t know why things happen, how they will turn out, or what God is doing in the middle of it all. There are many times that God’s providence feels mysterious, almost like it is hidden behind clouds that we cannot part.

It’s in those moments that we learn one of the hardest lessons of the Christian life: to be content not because we understand God’s ways, but because we trust Him. In this post, I’d like to highlight the relationship between contentment and God’s mysterious providence

1. Providence

Perhaps the best place to start is with a simple definition. What are God’s works of providence? The Baptist Catechism answers it this way:

“God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions.”

The Bible never promises that God will explain Himself. We learned that on Sunday when we spoke about the story of Job. What the Bible does promise is that God is always at work to accomplish His purposes for His glory and for the good of His people.

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:9–10)

That means nothing in your life has slipped outside of God’s sovereign care. The story of Joseph demonstrates this beautifully. When Joseph was sold into slavery, he couldn’t have imagined what God was doing. But years later, looking back, he declared,

“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Providence is often only clear in the rearview mirror. But faith allows us to rest even before we see what God was doing.

2. Trusting in God’s Character

Knowing that God is sovereign and all-powerful is one thing—but is He safe?

There’s a scene in the C. S. Lewis classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that beautifully captures the biblical truth of God’s sovereignty and His goodness. When the Pevensie children first hear about Aslan, the great Lion who represents Christ, here’s the exchange:

“Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion,” said Mr. Beaver. “Ooh,” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Lewis’s point is profound: of course God isn’t safe. He cannot be tamed or controlled. He is a consuming fire. He is holy, powerful, and not a God to be trifled with! But He’s good! Every act of His power flows from perfect righteousness. He’s also the King who rules over all creation, and His counsel will not fail. Though God’s providence may be mysterious and even terrifying, we can trust in His goodness—and that is where true contentment is found.

3. God Uses His Providence to Shape Our Hearts

Behind every providence is a purpose. It is not always for our comfort, but for our conformity to Christ. God’s mysterious plans often serve to loosen our grip on the world and tighten our grip on Him. Pastor Mike mentioned Jeremiah Burroughs’ book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment on Sunday. In it, Burroughs reminds his readers, as the psalmist says:

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” (Psalm 119:71)

It is good, not because affliction is enjoyable, but because the end result is spiritual fruit that comfort could never produce. Contentment, even under a frowning providence, teaches us how to worship God while we wait. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15). God’s mysterious providence is often the fertile soil that produces greater faith and deeper contentment in Him. In closing, consider how this truth is displayed in the hymn by William Cowper, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; 

He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, 

He treasures up His bright designs And works His sov’reign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 

But trust Him for His grace; 

Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; 

The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy

and shall break In blessings on your head.

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; 

God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; T

he bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flow’r.