As we close and reflect on God’s providence, I want to close with a lengthy quote from Harvey Newcomb who gets right to the point about how we should think about God’s providence. “We are prone to lose sight of the ‘hand of God’ in the little difficulties and perplexities which are of every-day occurrence, and to look only at ‘second causes’. We often do the same, in more important matters. When we are injured or insulted by others, we are disposed to murmur and complain, and give vent to our indignation against the immediate causes of our distress; forgetting that these are only the ‘instruments which God employs’ for the trial of our faith, or the correcting of our sins. In this doctrine of the secret agency of divine Providence, we have the strongest motive for a hearty and cheerful resignation to all the troubles and difficulties, trials and afflictions, which come upon us in this life — whatever may be their immediate cause. We know that they are directed by our heavenly Father, whose “tender mercies are over all His works,” and who “does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” Whatever may be our afflictions, so long as we are out of Hell, we are monuments of His mercy. We are assured “that all things work together for good, to those who love God.” The afflictions of this life, are the faithful corrections of a kind and tender Father. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” How consoling the reflection — that all our sufferings are designed to mortify and subdue our corruptions, to wean us from the world, and lead us to a more humble and constant sense of dependence upon God! How ungrateful for a child of God to repine at the dealings of such a tender and faithful Father! God will give us all that He sees is best for us. And surely we ought to be satisfied with this; for He who sees the end from the beginning, must know much better than we — what is for our good. It is our duty to maintain a contented and cheerful spirit in every situation of life. If God directs all our ways, and has promised to give us just what He sees we need, we surely ought to rest satisfied with what we have; for we know it is just what the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and unbounded goodness — sees fit to give us.”