Thomas Adams (1583–1652): “Christ is the sum of the whole Bible, prophesied, typified, prefigured, exhibited, demonstrated, to be found in every leaf, almost in every line, the Scriptures being but as it were the swaddling bands of the child Jesus… He is life and light, the sun and the sum, the founder and the finisher of all perfect blessedness.” [viii]
John Flavel (1627–1691): “There is nothing unlovely found in him, so all that is in him is wholly lovely. As every ray of God is precious, so everything that is in Christ is precious: Who can weigh Christ in a pair of balances, and tell you what his worth is? He is comprehensive of all things that are lovely: He seals up the sum of all loveliness. Things that shine as single stars with a particular glory all meet in Christ as a glorious constellation. ‘It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell,’ (Col. 1:19). Cast your eyes among all created beings, survey the universe, observe strength in one, beauty in a second, faithfulness in a third, wisdom in a fourth; but you shall find none excelling in them all as Christ does. He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, a garment to the naked, healing to the wounded; and whatever a soul can desire is found in him (1 Cor. 1:30).”[ix]
How staggering it is that this lovely One died in our place, shedding his own precious blood for our sins, as our substitute on the cross.
John Flavel (1627–1691): “If a pardon be sweet to a condemned malefactor, how sweet must the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus be to the trembling conscience of a law-condemned sinner? If a rescue from a cruel tyrant be sweet to a poor captive, how sweet must it be to the ears of enslaved sinners, to hear the voice of liberty and deliverance proclaimed by Jesus Christ?” [x]
By faith, discouraged and downcast pastors may look beyond the darkness of present trials to the bright hope of God’s promises in Christ. John Bunyan agrees: “Faith sees more in one promise of God to help, than in all other things to hinder.”[xi] Faith looks to God in Christ for the answers to all our fears, all our wants and all our miseries.
William Bridge (1600–1670): “Faith is the help against all discouragements. Hoping, trusting, waiting on God, is the special, if not the only means appointed against all discouragements.”[xii]
Bridge goes on to describe a conversation between the downcast Christian and God:
“‘Though God be strong and able to help me, yet I fear that God is not willing to help me. I know God is able, and that God is strong enough, but I fear the Lord is not willing, and therefore I am discouraged.’
‘Yet, be of good comfort, saith the Lord, for my name is Merciful. The Lord, the Lord, the Mighty God, that is my name. Therefore, I am able to help thee. And my name is Merciful, therefore, I am willing to help thee. Be of good comfort! My name is Gracious. I do not show mercy because you are good but because I am good. Nor do I stand upon your deserving, but I show mercy out of my free love.’
‘Oh, but I have been sinning, I have been sinning a long time, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years. Therefore, I fear there is no mercy for me.’
‘Yet, saith the Lord, be of good comfort for my name is Long-suffering. I am slow to anger. Art thou abundant in sin? I am abundant in goodness. I forgive, even all sorts and all kinds of sins, and this is my name forever.’”[xiii]
The Lord Jesus Christ is the discouraged and weak pastors’ complete happiness and strength. He came into the world to save sinners and to endear our hearts to him.
Thomas Brooks (1608–1680): “The greatest design of Christ in this world is mightily to endear the hearts of his people. And indeed it was that which was in his eye and upon his heart from all eternity. It was this design that caused him to lay down His crown and to take up our cross, to put off his robes and to put on our rags, to be condemned that we might be justified, to undergo the wrath of the Almighty that we might forever be in the arms of his mercy. He gives his Spirit, his grace, yea, and his very self, and all to endear the hearts of his people to himself. Oh! What heart can conceive, what tongue can express, this matchless love! I will be thine forever, says Christ, and my Spirit shall be thine forever, and my grace thine forever, and my glory thine forever, and my righteousness thine forever, all I am and all I have, shall be thine forever. O sirs! What condescending love is this! Oh! What a Christ is this!”[xiv]
No matter how difficult or chaotic the season of ministry, the discouraged pastor may rejoice knowing eternal peace with God has been secured through Christ.
