Those who know me well have heard me say on many occasions, “I have removed the word, ‘coincidence,’ from my vocabulary, because I don’t believe anything happens by coincidence.” So, that being the case, why would I entitle this blog, “Providence, or Coincidence?”

Well, what has got me thinking about this subject once again is a couple of situations with which I am personally acquainted. Allow me to share.

One has to do with my church family. New Horizon Community Church has been my church home for more than twelve years. I was blessed to be part of a small group of believers who felt that a new church was needed in the Lancaster, SC, area. Not that there was not plenty of churches already in this area, but that a non-traditional Southern Baptist church was needed. Thus, we embarked on a journey that has now lasted these twelve plus years. I could share with you story after story of the providential hand of God we have been privileged to witness during this time.

However, I will skip over all that (perhaps that will be a topic of a future blog) for the sake of time and space, and focus my thoughts on the recent past. Last summer, our NHCC family was enjoying one of our Summer Family Fun Days, at which Bryant and Kristen Blakley joined the festivities. Bryant had been serving in Alaska with Alaskan Missions. While he was serving there, Kristen came from Texas to serve as a summer missionary. Bryant and Kristen served together that summer, and ultimately developed a relationship which resulted in their marriage. The Blakley’s then served together in Alaska.

At this family fun day, Bryant shared with me that he and Kristen felt that God was leading them to move back to the Lancaster area. I shared with him that I had felt led of the Lord to begin the process of sharing with the leadership at NHCC that I was planning to transition out of full-time pastoral ministry into semi-retirement. Thus began the journey that has led the pastor search team at NHCC to recommend Bryant be the next pastor of this church family.

I have greatly abbreviated this story, leaving many related points of interest out for the sake of time and space, but I share this to ask the question: was it coincidence that Bryant was serving in Alaska, and that Kristen came to that exact location in Alaska as a summer missionary? Was it coincidence that they developed a relationship which ultimately led to their marriage? And was it coincidence that they felt led of the Lord to move back to Lancaster at the same time NHCC was beginning the process of transition? I, for one, think not. I believe firmly that all of these events were guided by the providential hand of God.

Second scenario. My wife and I were having lunch with our daughter and her husband. During the course of conversation, Charity, our daughter, said that if she had gone straight into EMT training and work (which she is now planning to do) and not to pursue a four year degree in criminal justice, then she would not have had the opportunity to work at Carowinds during the Scarowinds season. Had she not worked at Scarowinds she would not have met Patrick, who eventually became her husband. Wise observations, to be sure.

To the casual observer, both of these scenarios could easily be attributed to chance, or coincidence. But could there be some other explanation? Could there not be the reality of the invisible hand of an almighty God who orchestrated these events to get people into places of His choosing, so that through the long chain of events He might bring them to make life choices that are in accordance with His will? Those who believe in coincidence would say that all of these events, and the uncountable associated events that were part of bringing this to happen, were coincidental.

I choose to believe that there is a greater purpose to the events of life. Am I suggesting that every event of life is pre-determined by God, and then carried out by His irresistible will? No, at least not necessarily. I am suggesting that there is a great and grand scheme being played out, and it is directed by the hand of almighty God. We are led in life to make certain choices, and God works in those choices to guide us to fulfill His will. Can we make mistakes along the way? Can we choose to go in a way other than that which He desires? Yes, we can make choices that are contrary to His will. But, as Paul says in Romans 8:28, God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. God can actually bring good out of bad choices I might make along life’s journey.

In my next blog, I will share my personal journey, which includes a lot of trial and error (too much error!), and yet as I look back over my journey, I see the finger-print of God. He was guiding when I was totally unaware of His presence.

Does God work this intimately with each of us? Absolutely! We may sometimes wonder where He is and why He has left us to make choices without His guidance, but rest assured, He is guiding us when we can’t see His hand. Bryant and Kristen, and Charity and Patrick, have experienced the providence of God. They may not have been aware of it at every moment of their journey up to this point, but it was providence that led them to make choices which have now led them to their present station in life.

Will you, today, acknowledge God’s guidance in your life? Will you thank Him that He is so much a part of your life experiences, and then thank Him for the provisions of His providence? He loves you, and has the best in store for you. We may not always think we are experiencing the best, but rest assured, He always knows what is best. Trust Him, and enjoy the journey!