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Life of Faith, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

55- Confidence In God's Qualities

 

St-Takla.org Image: Jesus Christ Pantocrator (Pantokrator), Coptic icon at St. Makarios Monastery, Egypt. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أيقونة قبطية تصور السيد المسيح الضابط الكل، دير القديس مكاريوس، مصر.

St-Takla.org Image: Jesus Christ Pantocrator (Pantokrator), Coptic icon at St. Makarios Monastery, Egypt.

صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أيقونة قبطية تصور السيد المسيح الضابط الكل، دير القديس مكاريوس، مصر.

1-Confidence In God's Qualities

a- Always put in your heart that God is a doer of benevolence, so that you can strengthen your faith with His care and protection. Always tell yourself “All things work together for good to those who love God." (Rom. 8:28). Have confidence that everything God does is benevolent, and that everything He allows to happen will no doubt lead to good whatever seems to be the matter, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. God showed benevolence to Joseph when he was sold as a slave and thrown into prison without any charges. All these distresses were in God's plan for the good of Joseph, and for the good of the whole region. This is what Joseph told his brothers who sold him “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Gen. 45:8), “You meant evil against me; but God

meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day.” (Gen. 50:20).

b- Have confidence that God is a father and that He is the Living One. No doubt, He treats His children with tenderness and gives them good gifts. God said in His fatherly tenderness, that He engraved us on the palms of His hands (Is 49:16). Even if a mother forgot her child, He won't forget us (Is 49: 15). In His fatherhood He gives us all that we need without asking.

c- What also strengthens the faith is to have confidence in God's ability to do anything. He loves and wants benevolences for you. He has the ability to do all, in spite of the fact that the matter would seem difficult.

When our Father Abraham raised his hand with the knife to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he had faith that God is loving and He inevitably wanted benevolence from all this. According to God's promise Abraham had full faith that he will have as many descendants from Isaac as the stars of the sky.

He even had faith that if Isaac died, then God was able to raise him from the dead and to fulfil His promise. “That God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” (Heb. 11:19). He is “A father of many nations in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” (Rom. 4:17).

Moses entered the Red Sea and crossed it having faith in God's ability to do anything and Joshua entered the Jordan river and also crossed it; each one of them with his people.

d- Have confidence in the God's judgment, and that all His planning is for good, even if you don't understand the depth of His judgment.

If you believe in God's judgment, you will live in peace and accept everything with satisfaction. But if your human mind doesn't have confidence in God's judgement you will live in murmur, complaints and psychological weakness. In all that happens to you say to Him; “I have confidence Lord in Your judgement and in Your good planning. And if my understanding is not paralysed, no doubt, I will know later what You meant, just as Joseph did.” Have confidence, that God is a doer of benevolence, that He is a loving father, that He is wise in His planning, that He wants good for you and that He is able. All these things deepen your faith and grant you peace of heart.


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