The Father’s love

“How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure! That He would give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure”. These are words taken from the famous hymn “How Deep the Father’s love” and they depict the depth and breadth of God’s love or at least they attempt to. Like me, you might have sung this a million times and not paid much attention to the lyrics. Letting familiarity or going through the motions reduce the awe, grandeur and meaning of the love of God as expressed in that song. When that happens, we show our view of God’s love is limited and tainted with society’s view of love – a mere feeling which is here today and gone tomorrow. Fortunately, the Lord in His kindness has a way of reminding us of His love and that through unimaginable situations. It is one thing to hear but it is another to experience. I believe that is why faith without action is dead (James 2:17). Unless and until your faith is accompanied with actions, there is no way to actually attest to the genuineness of your faith. With today’s post, after a long break, I hope to remind you of the Father’s love by telling you of a recent situation, a testimony if you will. Hopefully, this encourages you and causes you to see the Father’s love in your life as well.

God’s ways are not ours. He works in a way we cannot comprehend. It is precisely what He did in using a difficult situation like the recent passing of my father to show His immeasurable love to me. I never truly understood how the Lord could turn a bad situation for your good but I have seen and am seeing how the Lord decided to use my dad’s death to showcase His love for me. Why do I say that? First of all because of my hope. My hope is in Christ alone and there is not a situation that reminds you of your finality and nothingness like death. I was reminded of the great hope that I have in Christ because I have put my trust in him. This trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross by way of dying to take my sins, nailing them to the cross makes me an heir of God and co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). That means, I have an inheritance in heaven that is not perishable, I have eternal life and my reward is coming. Truly, it is a completely different mindset when you mourn with eternity in mind, it reminds you that you are nothing in and of yourself but that Christ is all and through him you have life eternal. And so, though you die you will live (John 11:25); though you suffer, it is only for a little while and God will restore you (1 Peter 5:10). Not only that, my hope in Christ has been anchored by the word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit. Words of hope have come to mind and the presence of God has been evident in my life. How can I say this with such confidence? Because of the outpouring of love and support I received from the body of Christ and friends. I would like to highlight the love and support I received from the local body of Christ as being remarkable even if it is what is expected of the church for like Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians, we are a body and so when one member suffers, the whole body suffers (1 Corinthians 12:26). Indeed, I did not go through this mourning alone, my brothers and sisters in the faith walked alongside me. They prayed with me for a miraculous healing during my dad’s sickness and when the Lord decided otherwise they continued to pray for me and my family. Moreover, they encouraged me, provided financially for me, fed me, sought ways to ensure I was not alone, called me, reached out, and they did not do it just once they kept on doing it. Even while I was away attending to the burial, they continued praying for me, asking the Lord to protect me and my family, to have His way and more. This walking alongside me was not just from people who knew me but from others who do not know me that well. Many heard I was in need and felt the desire to help me in any way they could. If this is not a tangible testimony of the love and favour of God in my life, then I don’t know what is. I am not sure why I was a recipient of this much love nor why my pain became the pain of others but I am grateful and pray to do the same for others when the time comes. Like a brother told me “I am spoiled”. As I hinted earlier, this love of God was displayed not just through the church but through unbelieving friends. They too reached out. It is as though the hand of God was working in every relation I had to ensure I was okay. Truly God takes care of those that are His (John 10:14). He protects His own with a jealousy that only befits Him. Indeed, when you go through the valley of shadow of death, you fear no evil because He is with you (Psalm 23:4). He can use anyone to make sure you lack no good thing (see how God used Cyrus to advance His purposes for His people Israel as prophesied in Isaiah 45:1). The portion of the righteous is truly prosperity that’s why Jesus came so we would have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). He alone can make it happen. I am well aware that this is not everyone’s testimony and that for some, they have not seen the hand of God carry them through suffering but if that is you today, I will simply say, to “ponder anew what the almighty can do”. Look at stories in the Bible where God has come to help the ones going through tough times like Naomi who felt like God had abandoned her in her suffering yet to find that He was with her all along and saw things she could not see by bringing rest to her. Or how about Joseph who went through one challenge after the other and then saw God’s hand in everything? As a matter of fact, I do not know of a single story in the Bible which shows a time where God was not near the righteous or near those who put their trust in Him or call upon His name. It is not possible for that would go against the character of God who is ever loving and does not lie. What I have learnt to do when I can’t seem to see His love is cry out to Him to open my eyes that I may see, to “help my unbelief” and in due time, I am able to see His hand.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds or what other types of griefs and challenges I will encounter but I know that God will hold me fast as He has done until now. Like He has said, I can cast all my cares upon Him because He cares and He has promised me rest if I come to Him with my burden. I believe the church is one of the means the Lord uses to showcase is love. Through the love we share for one another, the world is able to see a glimpse of God’s love and it becomes evident to them that we are indeed disciples of Christ (John 13:35). May the Lord cause us to love one another so deeply and live in the unity we are called to as we strive to do the good works He has prepared in advance for us. Amen.