My God and Father

Passages: Lord’s Day 9; Genesis 2

In Lord’s Day 9 the Catechism makes three audacious claims: First, that one God created the universe; Second, that this God continues to govern the universe and every constituent part; Third, that this God knows and loves us, and identifies himself as our Father. On the basis of this foundation, the Catechism goes on to claim that our lives themselves are mapped out and ordered by God. Accordingly, every event and experience is part of God’s plan for our lives.

This raises all kinds of questions. Why would God bring me this bout of the flu? Or cancer? Why would God allow me to lose this job? Or spouse? Or child? What good can God bring out of this loss or failure or hurt or humiliation?
We don’t always know. We can’t possibly see the bigger picture God sees. As God’s children, we can seldom do more than simply trust. But when we do so, we are given eyes through which to see more and more of the good that God has for us.