“I Believe in God, the Father Almighty!”

From the southern tip of Africa we could clearly see a potent picture of the providential hand of God. It was hard not to be there in person, yet Patty and I rejoiced as we watched online the marriage of dad to a wonderful lady named Dianne.

Their union highlighted the Biblical truth of how the Father “gives beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair…” (Is. 61:3). A few years ago both Dianne and Ray grieved the loss of their spouses after 50 plus years of marriage. Both cried rivers of tears at the loss of wonderful godly mates. But as we watched the beautiful ceremony which took place in an idyllic lush Western Michigan backyard there were bright smiles of joy and a spirit of thankfulness and praise.

In the midst of a world wide pandemic causing a global crisis we witnessed a glorious picture of the nature of God. In fact Pastor Art, who officiated the wedding, was spot on when he read from the Heidelberg Bible Study, question & answer 26:

What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?“

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them, by His eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ His Son.

I trust Him so much that I do not doubt He will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and He will turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this sad world.

He is able to do this because He is Almighty God; He desires to do this because He is a faithful Father.”

Ray & Dianne’s wedding day preached a Powerful, Almighty God, who created the world out of nothing and is still in control. He is a God who overcomes pain, loss, apparent chaos and injustice and turns it “to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this sad world.” His heart is for His children and He continues to run to us in the midst of our trials as a “Faithful Father” who will never let anything separate us from His forever love (Rom. 8:31-39).

Thanks Ray & Dianne for being pictures of faith of what it means to “believe in God the Father Almighty.” Your life and recent marriage is an encouragement to us all to redirect our souls into the Almighty hands of the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe who we can call Abba Father!