God's Providence

 

Earlier today, as I was researching early Thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S., I found an interesting story that led me to reflect on the protective presence of God in our scary moments.  The story I read said that it was a custom in one of the tribes of Native Americans that a young man had to go through a testing to prove his manhood.  In the dead of night, he was led by his father into the depths of the forest blindfolded.  The young man was tied still blindfolded to a tree.  He was left alone all night vulnerable to animal attacks.  The boy thought he was all alone and was expected to show bravery.  Unknown to him his father was close by to protect him if danger approached.

God’s Providence means that God’s loving care surrounds us at every moment of our lives.  We might sometimes feel that “God hides His face” in our troubles.  With the Psalms we pray, “Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior” (Psalm 27:9).  Praise to His mercy He doesn’t abandon us in our troubles!

We must trust in this caring presence of God.  At times, He only seems to abandon us, to hide His face. He is close and only seems to be away.  He’s only encouraging us to trust in His deep love for us!  In our deepest anxious moments, He gives us the biggest opportunity to make our greatest act of loving confidence.  Like the young man tied and blind in the story we grow into a beautiful reckless bravery of trust.   Love can’t really grow without challenging scary problems.  “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:12-19)