Tending to Our Future

Ecclesiastes 7:14-15

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the
day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one
over against the other, to the end that man should
find nothing after him.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity:
there is a just man that perisheth in his
righteousness, and there is a wicked man that
prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

In 1636, a devout Baptist Christian named Roger Williams was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England for views differing with the Puritans. He founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, so-named by Williams because of what he saw as “God’s merciful providence,” which he believed guided him there. Providence became the capital of Rhode Island.

Providence is not only a biblical word, it also reflects biblical ideas. The word comes from the Latin word for “foresee or attend to,” an appropriate way to think of God’s knowledge of the future as He attends to the needs of His people. In the midst of a difficult situation, Williams credited God’s providence with leading him to a new location for pursuing Christian religious freedom. It suggests to us the same: Regardless of today’s trials, God knows the future and is tending to our life to meet our needs. Whatever your need today, trust in the providence of a good and gracious God.