Our God is the creator of heaven and earth and by his power all things were created and all things are sustained. We have no thought, no substance and no existence except by him and through him. He provides life, inspiration, nourishment and, most importantly, his presence and power to those he loves and chooses.

God’s provision is both a past, singular event in which he created this world and all of the systems that govern it and an ongoing, daily occurrence in which he continues to interact with this world and his people in order to meet their needs. How God provides is completely dependent on his purposes and, even though we sometimes fail to understand, will always bring about his perfect will.

I am reminded of a brother in Christ that I recently met with for the purpose of prayer and encouragement. This brother was struggling with some physical infirmities that were making daily life very difficult and uncomfortable and he was weak both physically and mentally. It is accurate to say that he was depressed and felt that his physical outlook was bleak but, being a believer in Christ, still desired to honor God with his attitude and actions.

Still, and as I have so many times in the past, I wondered why God would allow one of his precious children to go through something so painful and difficult. I wondered why God, despite many visits to the doctor and many tests, had not provided a remedy to this disease.

I think we’ve all been there; to that place where we don’t doubt God’s intentions but we are nevertheless perplexed by his timing and how he seems to be still in our time of need. We know he still loves us. We know that he has promised to never leave us or forsake us. But why does he sometimes choose to allow us to linger in a place of pain and uncertainty?

All I can say to that is that I choose to believe in his word and his promises.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (NASB)

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NASB)

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 2 Corinthians 4:17

And when God’s word is considered and we view our present circumstances in the light of his eternal plan it may not change our situation but it will change our outlook and improve our understanding of what he is trying to accomplish. God may not always provide what we want or when we want but what he provides is always better, always at the perfect time and always worth far more than anything we could ask or imagine.