Gentle King
The Gospel

Rest

Safe in His Keeping

Underneath all these fears is the same suspicion, that in the end it all hangs on you. Paul closes Romans 8 by naming everything that could come between a believer and God.

About 3 minutes to read

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)

Paul does not say you are kept by your love for God. He says nothing can separate you from God’s love for you, and that love is in Christ Jesus our Lord, where no fear of yours can reach it. When Zion said the Lord had forgotten her, God answered through Isaiah.

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:15-16 (KJV)

Moses, blessing Israel before his death, told them that the eternal God was their refuge and that underneath were the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27). On the nights you cannot hold on to anything, that is still where you are.

Do these things while you wait for the fear to lift.

  1. Come to the Lord’s Table. Question 172 of the Larger Catechism says the Supper was appointed for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians. One who doubts should mourn his unbelief and labor to have his doubts resolved, and as he does, he may and ought to come, so that his faith is made stronger. Take your doubts to your elders. If you are a communing member, do not stay away from the table while they are being answered.
  2. Keep sitting under the preached Word. The Word that first worked your faith is how God goes on strengthening it (WCF 14.1). This page cannot feed you week by week. A faithful pulpit can. If you do not yet belong to a church with a pulpit like that, find one and join it. Go even when you feel nothing.
  3. Pray Mark 9:24 honestly. Tell him you believe and ask him to help your unbelief. Ask again tomorrow.
  4. Learn a few places in Scripture you can find in the dark. Romans 8 answers the accuser. Psalm 103 speaks to shame, and John 10 to the fear that you will slip from his hand.

Isaiah 40 opens with God commanding comfort for his people. A few verses on, Isaiah sees the Lord God come with a strong hand, his arm ruling for him. The next thing that arm does is gather lambs.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 40:11 (KJV)