In his recent essay “God’s Providence Applied In Our Lives,” writer Joel Beeke referred to a section of the Heidelberg Catechism subtitled “Of God the Father.” That prompted me to pull the Book of Confessions from a shelf and delve in.
Actually, what really prompted me to ponder God’s providence more deeply has been the recent onslaught of difficulties in so many people I know and love, including some very serious health issues: loved ones recently diagnosed with cancer, dementia, lots of Covid-19 including two family deaths and an elderly aunt currently hospitalized, loss of hearing, a heart problem…the list goes on and on.
Our daily Bible studies and devotions provide the best of all resources, God’s written word and our own conversations with Him, to help us navigate life’s trials. Sometimes it boggles the mind to think that everything comes from the hand of God, and that God uses all circumstances for good to those who trust in Him. The wisdom of believers through the ages is an added resource for equipping us to lend strength and spiritual support to others in times of need. Consider these:
Heidelberg Catechism Question 26: What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”?
Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, Who still upholds and rules them by His eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ His Son. I trust Him so much that I do not doubt He will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and He will turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this sad world. He is able to do this because He is almighty God; He desires to do this because He is a faithful Father.
These are strong words of comfort when we find ourselves wondering…what does God have in mind here? How can this situation ever come to a good end?
Heidelberg Catechism Question 27: What do you understand by the providence of God?
Answer: Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which He upholds, as with His hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaves and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty, all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from His fatherly hand.
A brilliant summary of Jeremiah 23:23-24, Acts 17:24-28, Hebrews 1:3, Jeremiah 5:24, Acts 14:15-17, John 9:3, Proverbs 22:2 and 16:33, and Matthew 10:29.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 28: How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?
Answer: We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love. All creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they can neither move nor be moved.
When people we cherish so dearly are hurting, many of us feel that pain as though it were our own. It’s hard to bear their pain, much less sense that we can be the soothing balm that someone needs, and just at the time they need it most. Let us pray, dear sisters and brothers in Christ, that God will equip us to be His eyes and ears, His heart and hands, to reach out in love and support to a world that is hurting. Indeed God’s church, both you and me, are called to this.