The all-good God cares for the human being and presents him with opportunities to enjoy the holy life, to fulfil God's plan for him, and to enjoy the eternal inheritance. God gives us the opportunity to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9) so that we may feel His love and delight when He grants us more than we ask and beyond that which we request. Through our dealings with Him, we experience His compassion, wisdom, and holiness. God, in His providence, is long-suffering and never ceases to provide opportunities for sinners to return to Him, even to the last moments of their lives. We always hear Him saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isa. 46:10).
St. Theophilus of Antioch and St. John Chrysostom likened God to the captain of a ship sailing towards a safe port, manifesting His wisdom and holy will, carrying those who trust in Him to reach safe haven. Nothing that happens in the world is just fate — God’s providence precedes, sees, and knows that will happen. Nothing happens by chance, as some think.
The Fathers cited
- St. Theophilus of Antioch
- St. John Chrysostom