Samuel Rutherford and his friends endured many trials. When I read about shipwrecks and deaths of children, of the plague raging through the countryside and the king determining by fiat the liturgy of the church, I feel like a wimp. But each of us must bear his own load no matter what century we live in. We may have different trials now but there’s always a temptation to question God’s providence. We all struggle to believe he is in control. When we go through these times we reach for what is true, for words that will comfort. When I was a new believer I learned this, “When you cannot trace his hand, trust his heart.” Rutherford may not have known those words, but he understood the truth. When we can’t understand we need to remember who he is. He is omniscient and perfectly wise. His will is always good and his providence is always trustworthy even though at times one side of it looks black. But as Rutherford often mentions in his letters, God’s providence has another side, a better side that we may not be able to comprehend now, but one day we will be able to see. In the meantime we live by faith. Here is an example of Rutherford’s advice to a friend who had endured some severe trials:

I would not have you to think it strange that your journey to New England hath gotten such a dash. It indeed hath made my heart heavy; yet I know it is no dumb providence, but a speaking one, whereby our Lord speaketh His mind to you, though for the present ye do not well understand what He saith. However it be, He who sitteth upon the floods hath shown you His marvellous kindness in the great depths.

However it be with you today, know that your King is on his throne, ruling and reigning over all with perfect wisdom and goodness.