Recovery of Faith

I have a special word for all who face impossibilities: A recovery of faith depends on a fuller revelation of the love of our heavenly Father toward us.

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV). Here is a glorious revelation of the steadfastness of God’s love for his people. Scripture tells us he rests and rejoices in his love for us!

The Hebrew word for “quiet” here means God hasn’t a single question concerning his love for us. In other words, he has fixed or settled his love for us, and he will never take it away. In fact, we’re told God is so satisfied in his love for us that he sings about it. Can you imagine this? Here is a manifestation in heaven of God’s delight over you. John Owen interprets the passage this way: “God leaps as overcome with joy.”

Moreover, Paul told us everything that is out of divine order, all that is of unbelief and confusion, is changed by the appearance of God’s love. “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:4-5).

In the preceding verse, Paul said, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived…” (Titus 3:3). In other words, “Everything was out of order when we once lived in sin; but the kindness and love of God appeared, which the Father shed on us abundantly through Christ, and he redeemed us.”

When Paul says the love of God “appeared,” he uses a word from a Greek root meaning “superimposed.” In short, the Lord looked down on us poor, struggling souls, full of fear and questioning, and he superimposed this revelation: “My love will deliver you. Rest and delight in my love for you.”

I thank God for the day his love “appeared” to me. There is no faith that can stand against impossibilities unless every problem and affliction is committed into the loving care of our Father.