Have you felt weary? Struggling with the weight of sin, the guilt of not measuring up, the pain of suffering circumstances. Do you wonder how to reconcile the sin and the suffering with who you know God to be?
In the midst of our lives, we may know that God is kind, compassionate and loving; that He is just, merciful and sovereign.
Yet, have you remembered that His heart is gentle toward you?
"I am gentle and lowly in heart" (Matt 11:29)
Dane Ortlund's book, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of God for Sinners and Sufferers, addresses the character of God's heart towards believers. He writes to us as regular Christians, who walk through life carrying sin on our shoulders and weighty circumstances in life, reminding us that whatever we face His character does not change.
As you face being laid off - His burden is light.
As you wash your hands multiple times - His yoke is easy.
As stores are closed, online shipping delayed - He is readily accessible to us.
As loved ones pass away within hospital walls - He shows us mercy.
"Contrary to what we expect to be the case, therefore, the deeper into weakness and suffering and testing we go, the deeper Christ's solidarity with us. As we go down into pain and anguish, we are descending ever deeper into Christ's very heart, not away from it."
We look to Christ and He deals gently with us. He intercedes for us. He forgives us. He gathers us securely into his flock. What a joy we can find, as we delve deeper into who He is, and how He responds to us - in all the situations we face.
Be encouraged today, knowing more of His gentle heart toward you, and pick up the book to take the study further.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crossway for an advanced reader copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review.