As we near the end of another year our minds are focused on the future and what it will bring. We may even look back on what we and the world have gone through with a great deal of trepidation. Even a blind man could see the horrible consequences of a world gone mad. Many appear to be on the verge of insanity doing the unthinkable, while others have become slaves to their technology or the free flow of drugs to control the masses. Humanity is in a sad state of affairs as they are being pulled from pillar to post with every tick of the clock. Time has become the new master demanding its allegiance, which is casting humanity further and further into the depth of despair. There is one underlying problem that is leading humanity to self-annihilation. All the governments in the world cannot stop it. All the self helps, and drugs cannot stop it. All the technology and advanced artificial intelligence can’t stop it. Only one thing can, trust. We must learn, once again, how to trust in the loving providence of God. When we do the clicking of the clocks will stop and we will be free at last to understand God’s loving providence for all of His called children.

We are free at last to look beyond the confines of time. Fallen humanity has invented precision time pieces to track time relative to our environment to maximize its workforce for greater productivity. Whereas the universe has no boundaries or limitations on time that can easily fluctuate in space-time stretching out to infinity. The Bible tells us that everything has time with no preset limitations (Ecclesiastes 3). When Jesus Christ walked upon the face of the earth, He did not allow time to control His actions. We often saw Him stepping outside the normal to do His Father’s business. Jesus demonstrated time and again that His ministry to others came first even when His Mother and brothers stood outside (Matthew 12:46-50). Jesus often did the unexpected from staying at the Temple when His parents left to praying all night on the mountain alone (Luke 2:41-52; Luke 6:12). Christ often demonstrated His trust in God’s loving providence even if it was at odds with the rest of humanity. We see this clearly in His healing ministry and overcoming the powers of demonic possession even when it interfered with the normal flow of His ministry and what others expected from Him. There was never any screaming, yelling, or repeating the same phrase over and over again. He brought order out of chaos allowing people to step out of time and observe the miraculous (Mark 5:25-43). After His resurrection, He stood completely outside of time itself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13).

When we trust in God’s providence completely, then we too will step outside the normal and do the unexpected. We can be easily awakened at 4 am for prayer, or to complete a special task. Or, we can work into the wee hours of the morning to complete the Lord’s work with little or no rest. Our first lesson in learning how to trust in God’s loving providence is to allow Him to direct our path every moment of every day as we join Christ beyond the limitations of time and space. This takes a certain level of trust that could put you at odds with the rest of humanity. When we start trusting in God’s loving providence by ignoring our schedules and going through the doors that He has opened, then we will be blessed beyond comprehension. Some doors may seem a bit frightening but if we are obedient to the Spirit’s leading and go through the door, then we will witness one little miracle after another. We can either be led around by the world and its time-honored schedules or we can trust God to go where no man has gone before – by being filled with the Spirit. I have many stories where I was led by the Spirit to stop and interact with another individual, even when I was running late, and was blessed beyond measure. We must be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading if we want to experience the joy of God’s loving providence.

There is no fear when we trust in God’s loving providence. There is no fear because we know that our Father knows best to lead us on a path that will always benefit our eternal destiny (Psalm 32:8). Furthermore, it will allow us to immediately enjoy the benefits of our salvation. We will experience a peace that defies understanding and joy beyond anything we have known. When we trust God to lead us in His loving providence, then we have the assurance that He will work everything out for the best (Romans 8:28). As we face another year with so many uncertainties, we need to have this assurance. The trust level in the world has plummeted greatly causing many to mistrust everything. From increasing scams to hypocritical people on social media, who can be trusted? From lying politicians to the latest conspiracy theories, who can be trusted to tell the truth? From unscrupulous evil teaching in public education to outrageous propaganda on the world stage, who can be trusted? Fear is also running rampant from the possibility of a nuclear war to receiving all of the bowls of God’s wrath upon an unrepentant world (Revelation 16). God is still in control. He holds all of His precious children in the palm of His Mighty hands not allowing anything to interfere with His loving providence. If we lose everything God is still in control. Even if our bodies are swept away as dust in a blowing wind, God is still in control fulfilling our eternal destiny.

This will truly be a new day for those who keep in step with the Spirit and trust in God’s loving providence. We will not just sit on the sidelines and watch the world fall apart. We will fight by using spiritual weapons and not the weapons of this evil world. When we trust in God’s loving providence, then we will no longer judge as the world judges, but we will be willing to associate with anyone and everyone that God brings into our path by the Spirit. When God opens the door, we will have an opportunity to share the Gospel with great boldness. On the other hand, going through a closed door will be like casting our pearls before the swine rendering great harm to our souls (Matthew 7:6). Keeping in step with the Spirit will give us discernment if a door is closed or has been opened by God. Dear children, let us seek out the faithful remnant to join us in whatever work the Lord has called us to. This is where we will witness the miracle of miracles by allowing God to speak through us saying or doing exactly what’s needed to build our brothers and sisters up in Christ. If we are trusting in God’s loving providence and keeping in step with the Spirit, then we will look beyond the social barriers of social media and allow God to bring us to face-to-face encounters where the Spirit can do His greatest work.

Finally, if you are not known by God through salvation in Christ Jesus, then it is nonsensical to trust in His loving providence (Matthew 7:21-23). On the other hand, those who have been called and made into a new creation have developed a deep level of trust in God alone (II Corinthians 5:17, II Peter 1:3). When we trust God, then we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. For example, if the Spirit says to pick up this old man in shabby clothes walking down the street and inquire about his needs, then you obey. I had this happen to me early in my ministry when the old man said he was tired and hungry because he had been walking for a long time to reach his destination in another town. On faith, we brought the old man home, gave him a nice hot meal, and invited him to spend the night in our spare bedroom. What happened later in the evening was one of the greatest blessings we have ever received. To this day we believe that we had entertained an angel unaware that told us things that we have treasured to this day. When we follow the Spirit and trust in God’s loving providence, then we need to get ready to be blessed beyond measure. Yes, dear friends, we will have difficult days ahead, but great joy and peace are available to those who have learned how to trust in God’s loving providence. As we face the coming year, we will stand against the world and time itself, with no fear in our hearts, because we know that our God loves His eternal children.