27. What do you understand by the providence of God?

The almighty, everywhere-present power of God,^[1] whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures,^[2] and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,^[3] health and sickness,^[4] riches and poverty,^[5] indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.

^[1]Acts 17:25-26. ^[2]Heb. 1:3. ^[3]Jer. 5:24; *Acts 14:17. ^[4]Jn. 9:3. ^[5]Prov. 22:2; *Ps. 103:19; Rom. 5:3-5a.

28. What does it profit us to know that God created, and by His providence upholds, all things?

That we may be patient in adversity,^[1] thankful in prosperity,^[2] and for what is future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love,^[3] since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.^[4]

^[1]Rom. 5:3; Jas. 1:3; Job 1:21. ^[2]Deut. 8:10; I Thess. 5:18. ^[3]Rom. 8:35, 38-39. ^[4]Job 1:12; Acts 17:25-28; Prov. 21:1; *Ps. 71:7; *II Cor. 1:10.