I don’t think there is such as word as “preprovidence,” but it certainly describes a wonderful aspect of the amazing way God cares for us. He works in our lives, and we live believing in His providence. However, we may have limited our understanding of His providence.
I know that the word providence literally means that God sees circumstances and events before they arrive. We talk about providence in the midst of trials, but the word “preprovidence” emphasizes just how far ahead of events God sees them! We often limit our understanding of Him and how He works in our lives.
Take the story of Joseph. It vividly illustrates how that without direct revelation we cannot know for certain that a specific event was part of His working. We learn so much from this story. God lets us see how He worked years before we normally think He does. Joseph, at the time he was being sold as a slave by his brothers, likely did not see God working, but he certainly did later. He told his brothers that God had sent him to Egypt to keep their families from starving—”God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5). Because of His revelation we can know that God was working at least twenty years ahead of the grave problem Jacob and his children faced.
The same is true of Moses. At the burning bush his life was transformed. He likely thought that he would die as an old man tending sheep in Midian. Yet when confronted by God he felt so unfit, especially in his ability to speak before others. What Moses did not know was that even before the Lord appeared to Moses He had said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses” (Exo. 4:27). God solved the problem before Moses even knew He had one!
So as you think about the providence of God, don’t think that God waits until some problem confronts you to begin solving it. Do not think of providence in this manner. There is the “preprovidence” of God—obviously solving problems before we are ever aware of them. This is how God works. This is providence! We don’t need a new word to describe how He works. The old one is sufficient, provided we understand it. God works far ahead of the circumstances in our lives.
You know, it’s fascinating to think that God is working right now in your life to solve problems that you don’t even have. He is truly an awesome God!