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“Divine providence is the force of the Lord’s love, working through His wisdom, to lead each one of us toward happiness in heaven” (Peter M. Buss, Jr.). The Lord created each one of us with the potential to become an angel. He is leading us every moment of our lives but leaves us in freedom to choose between heaven and hell on our spiritual journey.

Sometimes it can be challenging to trust in the Lord’s providence. When things don’t seem to be going well, we may wonder if the Lord is caring for us. Whether or not we believe it, He is always trying to lead us toward eternal happiness. If we can believe it, then we feel at peace even when troubles come our way.

Peace holds within itself trust in the Lord, the trust that He governs all things and provides all things, and that He leads toward an end that is good. (Arcana Coelestia 8455:1)

Key ideas that we can teach children about Providence

Talk about Divine providence with your children—at the dinner table, at bedtime, or in family worship. When we hear of bad things happening in the world—far away or nearby—It can be comforting to remember that the Lord is in charge. And He is working to give each one of us as much happiness as possible.

Little ones can be taught:

The Lord is always with us, leading and protecting us.
The Lord has all power over both good and evil.
Because the Lord loves us, He allows us to make mistakes.
The Lord helps us see our mistakes so that we can learn to make better choices.

When children are older, they can learn that:

The Lord does all things according to order.
He cannot break His own rules. He is the Ruler.
When the Lord's rules are obeyed, there is charity and cooperation.
The Lord’s Providence gives each of us individual freedom and responsibility.

Ideas for teenagers include:

The Lord preserves a person’s free will so that they can choose good or evil.
The Lord is with us every step of the way, yet always respecting our freedom.
The choices we make have consequences to eternity, and yet the Lord always keeps us in freedom to change.
The Lord is the Comforter with power to heal and save.

Resources for all ages

“Readings on Divine Providence” (for age 18 and up)
Provides an overview of the Lord’s Divine Providence.
“Everything Is Going to Be All Right” by Donald L. Rose (for teens and up)
When you comfort a person in real trouble or distress, you may find yourself saying, “Everything is going to be all right.” It is true because the Lord has all power and loves and cares for us.
“Why the Lord Hides Himself” by David R. Simons (ages 5-14)
The Lord leaves us free to discover the warmth of His love and the brilliance of His wisdom, a little at a time as we grow.
The Stream of Providence Game (ages 8-12)
This game is about the Lord leading us toward His heavenly sheepfold.
Trusting in the Lord Memory Verses (ages 5-12)
Beautiful passages from the Lord’s Word about trusting in Him.
Conjunction with a Visible God (ages 5-14)
Illustration of the Lord opening His arms to each one of us.
Prayers on Trusting in the Providence of God (ages 18 and up)
Four prayers thanking the Lord for His care for us.
The Known Laws of Divine Providence Coloring Page (teens and up)
The laws of providence described in the teachings of the New Church, set in an intricate border to color.
Trusting in the Lord’s Providence Bookmarks (teens and up)
Print out these beautiful bookmarks with quotes about trusting in the Lord.
Divine Providence Story-Telling
People who trust in the Lord are constantly receiving good from Him. No matter what happens—whether it seems advantageous or not—it can be used to contribute to their eternal happiness (see Arcana Coelestia 8480. Discuss this idea, sharing examples from personal experience or drawing on movies and books that seem to illustrate this idea. Remember that it is granted that a person can see the operation of the Lord’s Providence in the past but not the present (see Divine Providence 187).