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Providence is a word every Christian should know, for it refers
to God’s good government of our lives. We are not the victims of
luck, fate or karma. Rather, God has mapped out our path from
before time began. He is active in the circumstances, surprises
and choices of our lives and is all the time leading us toward
His purpose. [23]
Sin, unchallenged and unconfessed, makes us harder and less
responsive until we can play any game, even a game of grief
where there is none felt. It hardens our hearts till they are
like granite. [36]
Knowing that God has our destiny in His hands is a source of
great peace and comfort to us who are believers. It is when we
take matters into our own hands that we often make a mess of
things. When we try to manipulate circumstances to achieve our
ends, even when they are good ends, we invariably make things
worse. [94]
The whole Joseph story is in fact a story about God. It is
Joseph’s understanding of this that makes him able to forgive.
After all, people might think he had every reason to take
revenge for all these men had done to him. Yet he responds with
compassion and mercy; he embraces them and loves them. How can
he do that? Because He believes in the sovereignty of God! [159]
In true forgiveness there is no denial of wrongdoing. Some
misunderstand forgiveness in this way. True forgiveness is being
able to look the offender in the eye, acknowledge their offense
and forgive them anyway. [174]
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