Parenting and the Sovereignty of God

A lot of life has been lived since my last post. God is faithful to keep life hard enough that we must depend on Him while not overwhelming us. Last Thursday Ben had a minor outpatient surgery to correct a hereditary birth defect. The surgery went quite well. Being parents we were somewhat concerned about the anesthesia as well as the fact that our 1 1/2 year old son was in surgery. However, God graciously granted smooth sailing through this minor stint of rough waters. Little did we know that the surgery was the easy part!

Sunday Bek and I were required to remove the bandages covering the wound. The doctor gave very specific instructions, assuring us that said instructions would aid the bandage removal. While he was right, he forgot to emphasize Ben's protest to such a procedure! I learned a couple of things over the course of that hour.

First of all, for 1 1/2 years old, my son is quite strong! It literally took both of my arms to subdue his arms and legs! I am quite impressed with the fight his little body put up!

Second, and most importantly, I learned a little bit more about how great our God is. Removing those bandages was painful for Ben. Hurting my son was a very difficult thing to do. Bek was actually crying during and after this process. It is a difficult thing to look your infant son in the eyes as you are holding him down so his mother can do something that is painful. While I knew I was hurting him, I knew it was for his good. What I was doing was painful in the moment, but would bring more enjoyment to his life in the future. If I stop at this point in the lesson, we would all recognize the importance; yet the true significance would be lost. The point of the account is that I caused my son pain for his own good. Taking this principle back to its Source provides some eye-opening truths.

Scripture records some interesting accounts of this principle. For instance, Psalm 119:75 clearly states that the Lord afflicts in faithfulness. Some other passages that reiterate God's sovereign control behind all things good or bad are Psalm 119:67, 71; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 45:7; and Lamentations 3:37-38. While this is encouraging, does it really teach us that God knows what it is like to inflict pain on His own children? I mean we are His creation, but it seems as though we are a bit further from Him than His own Son. As His providence would dictate, there are passages that give some light upon God's feelings towards the suffering of His Son. Take for instance Isaiah 53:4 which teaches us that Christ was 'smitten of God.' Isaiah 53:10 reiterates this point, emphasizing that 'the Lord was pleased to crush Him.' I don't think God was completely joyful while Christ suffered and died. Matthew 27:45-54 describes some of the circumstances surrounding Christ's death. There was darkness. The earth shook and rocks were split. Bodies were raised to life. The veil was torn. It seems as though some of these things were not the result of the Father rejoicing over the Son's death. Even the Son's very death was the penalty for sin; sin which enrages the Father. While Christ's death did please His Father, it seems as though there was some divine grief over this murder of Deity. Yet the Father planned this for His glory and therefore for our good!

As I sat through two sermons on Sunday morning, I wrestled with this question: "Do I love my own son enough to do what is best for Him even though it may hurt him?" I came to the conclusion that I did not. I prayed asking the Lord to help my wife and I do what was best for our son. Praise God that He answers prayer! When we rely on Him, He provides! To His glory, He provided the love necessary to do what was best for our son! This episode in our life is just an example of how God did what was best for His Son. Christ's death and resurrection brought Him the most glory - and the most glory is what is best for His Son! In His providence, Christ's glory brings us life! What a mighty God we serve!