Puritan John Flavel is well known for, among other things, his work “The Mystery of Providence.” John Flavel answers fundamental questions regarding God’s providence which have plagued Christians throughout the history of the church, and still do.
You can download Flavel’s book from Monergism. Here’s part of the Introduction:
The greatness of God is a glorious and unsearchable mystery. ‘For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth’ (Psalm 47:2). The condescension of the most high God to men is also a profound mystery. ‘Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly’ (Psalm 138:6). But when both these meet together, as they do in this Scripture, they make up a matchless mystery. Here we find the most high God performing all things for a poor distressed creature.
It is the great support and solace of the saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy issues. And, indeed, it were not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.
In his book “Some Pastors and Teachers” Sinclair Ferguson has a chapter called John Flavel and the Mystery of Providence. Ferguson writes:
John Flavel’s grasp of the doctrine of providence and his pastoral wisdom in expounding and applying it are themselves adequate commendation of this wonderful book…it [Flavel’s book] spells out loudly and clearly a number of biblical principles which Christians today desperately need to hear.
Concluding the chapter, Ferguson leaves readers several important reflections on God’s providence based on Flavel’s book. Here they are:
1) God is in control of His universe
2) God is working out His perfect purpose
3) God is not my servant
4) God’s ways are far more mysterious and wonderful than I can understand
5) God is good – all of the time; I can trust Him – all of the time
6) God’s timetable is not the same as mine
7) God is far more interested in what I become than in what I do
8) Freedom from suffering is no part of the promise of the Christian gospel
9) Suffering is an integral part of the Christian life
10) God works through suffering to fulfill His purposes in me
11) God’s purposes, not mine, are what bring Him glory
12) God guides me by enabling me to read His providences through the lenses of His word
13) I have few greater pleasures than tracing the wonders of God’s ways
Ferguson rightly finishes off by noting that these lessons will transform our lives, and do us endless and eternal good.
See also The Gospel and God’s Providence
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