Proclaimer Blog
Ministry and suffering (3): Question 26
Close friends and I often – rather mysteriously – say to one another (or text) – "Question 26" by which we mean Heidelberg:
Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?
Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.
It's that last truth which is such a great sustaining grace during times of suffering. We hold two truths in glorious tension – that God is both Almighty and Father. I was talking to my eldest daughter, Alice, about this just the other day and she, rather profoundly, said, "Wouldn't it be terrible if God was just one?"
- For a God who is Almighty but not Father would be a terrible despot – unconcerned for our wellbeing and acting out of selfish motives alone.
- For a God who is Father but not Almighty would be a terrible comfort – only able to put his arm around you and say "there, there…" (which, by the way is the irony of Open Theism which claims that God responds to tragedy by saying, "I didn't see it coming either" – some comfort, that is!).
It is the glorious tension of these two truths together that sustains us through the tough times. It doesn't matter whether the crisis is personal or church related; individual or corporate – God is both Almighty and a faithful Father.
By the way, pastorally speaking, I am convinced these are truths you need to learn in the good times. And teach in the good times. Try teaching someone about the sovereignty of God when things are bad. Not a good time to hear it for the first time!
And these truths are tied up with the consistent nature of God – so one song I find very helpful goes something like this:
Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt?Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorifiedAre You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night
© 2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)