God's Providence

hey so alot of you know that i made a speech (or in other words gave my tesimony of what i saw God do while i was at student life) but here is my essay that i took notes off of and spoke on:

God’s providence: through teaching, his people, worship, and his timing.
God’s providence meaning: the wisdom, care, and guidance provided by God.

Whenever we first found out that Pastor Matthew was resigning we were pretty upset! We were especially upset that we wouldn’t be there for one last sermon under our beloved teacher! I kept on asking “Why?! Why did God send us all the way out here far from home during this time!” But during the week I saw God miraculously work through the hearts of our youth group! We heard Ben Stuart talk about how everything happens for a purpose and it made me realize that God had planned this whole situation out before time began and that he had us there for a reason!

James 1:2-4 says, “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.
-Teaching: When Ben Stuart talked about how God saw to it that a king would rise up from Jesse, and how he didn’t just appoint a random king, but that he ordained it before time, it made me realize that God will do the same for us! God has our every situation in his hand and he will rise up a leader for his people, he will not abandon us during this time! Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This verse was such comfort to me during this time! It reminds us that we can come to our Abba Father and lay our burdens at his feet which is such an amazing relief!
-His people: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” During the week at student life that verse became real! I saw God work through our youth and minister and speak through them to comfort and encourage each other! I also saw God work through our youth group and bring us together! People who wouldn’t usually talk or hang out with each other began to!
-Worship: The song “Reign in us” by starfield was a perfect prayer that seemed as if it was written for us! “You thought of us before the world began to breathe and you knew our names before we came to be. You saw the very day we'd fall away from you and how desperately we need to be redeemed! Lord Jesus come lead us, we're desperate for your touch! Oh Great and Mighty One, with one desire we come, that you would reign, that you would reign in us! We're offering up our lives, a living sacrifice; that you would reign, that you would reign in us!” Also, the song “healer” by Kari Jobe was a perfect reminder of how we need to rest in God and lay our burdens at his feet. “I believe that You're my healer! I believe that You are all I need! I believe that You're my portion! I believe that You're more than enough for me; Jesus, You're all I need!”
-His timing: Matthew 6:25 & 33 says, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God’s timing is perfect so we shouldn’t worry about what will happen to us when this or that happens! God has everything that we need and he will provide for us! John piper says, “To seek the kingship of God first in every affair and every moment of life is a thrilling way to live. It's full of freedom and peace and joy and adventure—and hardship; and it's worth it all. If you believe in the kingship of your heavenly Father, you do not need to be anxious about anything. If we are anxious about our life then it shows that we are really very much like the world in what makes us happy. And that ought not to be. It's such a foolish thing to insist on carrying anxious burdens which God has promised to carry for us when we put his kingly honor first in everything we do.”