Advent For Those Grieving | No. 18
ADVENT DAY EIGHTEEN
"one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:6
GOD IS OUR FATHER
Grief tends to make the world feel as though it's spinning out of control. Our hearts feels unstable. All that we thought to be true, all that we knew to be right in the world, has come undone. And yet God's Word tells us that although it feels as though everything is uncertain, everything is unstable, that everything is spinning out of control, God is in fact holding it all together. God is in control. He is not surprised by your suffering and His arm is not shortened by it or His strength limited by it. And that truth gives us hope. Because nothing that happens is beyond His reach or out of His realm of power.
And not only do we have a God who is over all things and through all things and in all things-- this God is our Father. He is not only creator and redeemer and savior but He is our Father. Close, intimate, deeply involved, caring, loving, concerned, protector, provider Father.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
And as a mama who has buried a son, I know just how hard it is to trust a Father who is in control and could have stopped the death, could have prevented the pain. This Christmas may we see Him as Father, who loves deeply His children. May we trust Him despite our pain as we remember that He sent His own son for us that we might have life.
"It is amazing that a holy and righteous God, who created and sustains all things, who is the only all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God, would allow sinful humans to call Him 'Daddy.'" Got Questions
THE PROMISE
God is our Father. And He is never not in control. He holds all things in His hand. And He is never not working to bring about His glory and your good. He loves you and you are His daughter.
PRAYER
Father, would you help me believe this truth: that You are in control; that You hold it all together and that You are a loving Father who sees me, who knows my pain, who calls me daughter. Father help me to remember and to believe that You are always working to bring about Your glory and my good.
