HOW GOD WORKS IN THE WORLD
God’s Will: What God wants done—he works through:
Natural Order
God’s Action: God set into action through Creation a normal working of his universe. He also revealed his expectations of people through his Word and people’s consciences.
Examples from Esther: God gave Esther natural beauty.
Esther planned a way to save her people.
Miracles
God’s Action: God breaks into the natural order to respond to the expressed needs of people.
Examples from Esther: God allowed Esther to speak to the king.
The people prayed and fasted.
Providence
God’s Action: God overrules the natural order to accomplish an act that people may or may not have requested.
Examples from Esther: God allowed Mordecai to overhear a plot.
Mordecai trusted God to accomplish what was impossible in human terms.
People’s Will: What people want done—
Action We Can Take: 
Plan
Can make plans based on the order and dependability of God’s creation. Know and obey his words.
Mistakes We Can Make: Disobey
Can violate the natural order, disobey God’s commands.
Action We Can Take: Pray
Can ask God to intervene in certain affairs while realizing that our knowledge and perspective are limited.
Mistakes We Can Make: Demand
Can assume that we understand what is needed and expect God to agree and answer our prayers that way.
Action We Can Take: Trust and Obey
Can trust that God is in control even when circumstances seem to indicate that he is not.
Mistakes We Can Make: Despair
Can assume God doesn’t answer prayer or respond to our needs and live as though there is nothing but the natural order.