Biblical Counseling Center, Jenison MI

09/03/2025

The Carson Center
Why the Psalmists Sing About Judges
September 2, 2025
Matthew Swale
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Before cellphone photo apps, many families kept bulky albums. Good memories—family trips, birthdays, and reunions—populated the pages. You didn’t usually find pictures that conjured unpleasant memories. Bad memories aren’t displayed; they’re discarded so people don’t have to relive them.

The Psalter is different. Psalms 105–106 contain both good and bad memories from Israel’s history—and rather than being kept private, these psalms were publicly sung in corporate worship (e.g., 1 Chron. 16). One of these unsavory memories is the period of the judges. During this dark time, the Lord repeatedly rescues Israel from idolatry (Judg. 2:11–13) and some of its symptoms, like mistreating women and children (11:29–40; 19:1–30; 21:20–23), national disunity (12:1–6; 20:1–48), and bo***ge to enemies (6:1–13).

At least three times in the Psalter (Pss. 68; 83; 106), writers allude to words and stories from the dark book of Judges. We should ask why, so we can grasp how unsavory memories helped the psalmists savor God’s grace.

Stabilizing Tentative Faithfulness (Psalm 68)
Psalm 68’s allusions to Judges are difficult to see until you compare verses 7–8 with Judges 5:4–5. David writes of “when [God] went out” and “when [God] marched” (Ps. 68:7; see Judg. 5:4); he recalls how “the earth quaked” and “the heavens poured” (Ps. 68:8; see Judg. 5:4) before “the One of Sinai” (Ps. 68:8, author’s translation; see Judg. 5:5).

Clearly, David is borrowing lyrics from Deborah and Barak. Despite a few differences (like saying “God” when Deborah said “LORD”), he uses 12 of the same Hebrew words in the same order. And the borrowing continues throughout the psalm—for example, in phrases like “among the sheepfolds” (Ps. 68:13; Judg. 5:16) and “leading . . . captives” (Ps. 68:18; see Judg. 5:12). Why does David do this?

The purpose of the Song of Deborah and Barak provides a clue. One scholar argues the song functions in Judges as a “challenge to the people to recognize and respond to divine activity with covenant fidelity.” Covenant infidelity led to Israel’s enslavement to enemies, so to avoid this fate, Deborah issues a challenge to recommit to the Lord.

Deborah is the only judge to lead the people in praise after the Lord delivered them, perhaps because she recognized that reliant praise was an important way to keep Israel’s eyes on the One who stabilizes fidelity. Her concern was justified, of course, because the next section of Judges narrates more infidelity.

Covenant infidelity led to Israel’s enslavement to enemies.

Similarly, David reigned after two eras marked by disobedience: the era of the judges and the reign of Saul. To liken one’s situation to that of Deborah and Barak is a humble move, because before and after their song, Israel rebelled. David recognized in his day the ever-present possibility of covenant infidelity, so he uses Judges 5 to do what Deborah did: humbly direct Israel’s gaze to the stabilizing grace of God for his weak people.

Seeking Undeserved Intervention (Psalm 83)
Psalm 83’s allusions to Judges are easier to identify: verses 9 and 11 contain names of places (like Midian; Judg. 4–5) and enemy leaders (like Sisera from Judg. 4–5 and Oreb from Judg. 6–8) from the Deborah (Judg. 4–5) and Gideon narratives (Judg. 6–8). The psalmist pleads with the Lord to repeat what he did in Judges 4–8 by defeating Israel and Judah’s ongoing enemies. But why does the psalmist choose stories from the book of Judges instead of stories from, say, Joshua?

In Joshua, God defeats Israel’s enemies in response to Israel’s obedient faith (e.g., Josh. 6–8). In Judges, though, God defeats the enemies in response to Israel’s repeated disobedience and disbelief. The psalmist is probably tacitly admitting that sin has led to ongoing enemy threats. Moses said, after all, that defeat by Israel’s enemies would often come because of covenant infidelity (Deut. 28:25). The writer of Psalm 83 seems to imply that God’s people need Judges-style intervention from God—deliverance when they deserve discipline.

Storying Parallel Failures (Psalm 106)
Psalm 106’s allusions to Judges read more like a story. The psalmist prefaces his narration of key events in Israel’s history with a thesis statement: “We have sinned with our fathers” (Ps. 106:6, LEB). Historical memory serves a repentant purpose. The writer begins by alluding to rebellion stories from Exodus and Numbers (Ps. 106:7–22) and then recalling how God saved Israel through the intercession of Phinehas and Moses (vv. 23–33).

The writer of Psalm 83 seems to imply that God’s people need Judges-style intervention from God—deliverance when they deserve discipline.

Then the psalmist turns to the events of Judges (vv. 34–46) but doesn’t mention an intercessor like Phinehas and Moses. The lack of intercessory leadership in Judges rings true when readers see what the Levites were doing in Judges 17–19 (i.e., idolatry and abuse).

Amazingly, even when Israel lacks a human intercessor, God still delivers them repeatedly (Ps. 106:43). Then the psalmist does some interceding of his own in verses 47–48, repentantly seeking another undeserved deliverance. The psalm humbles God’s people by likening them to Israel’s darkest hour of covenant infidelity because, even then, God’s grace prevailed.

Psalmists’ Use of Judges
“You’re just like your father.” Depending on the speaker and the father, this remark might be encouraging or humbling. If a biblical writer compared Israel to their forefathers Joseph or Joshua, it’d be encouraging. When psalmists compared Israel to stories in Judges, it was a way to humble the audience to help them (and us) rely on God.

These psalmists seem to have read the book of Judges and seen patterns analogous to their own sinful predicaments. Accessing unsavory biblical memories kept Israel from thinking too highly of themselves and helped them think more highly of God’s marvelous grace. Reflecting on these psalms and the way they view the past can do the same for us today.

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08/28/2025

My Mom, Her Drug Addiction, and God’s Grace
August 28, 2025 | Caleb Orella
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In our comfortable age, we often avoid affliction at any cost. But I’ve learned that Christian suffering isn’t without hope and that God often uses our pain to bring about redemption.

In sixth grade, I joined the 12 percent of children who had a parent addicted to drugs. Before I knew what was going on, a pastor had discovered my mother’s addiction to opioids and confronted her. For her son’s sake, he said, she needed to become sober. If she didn’t give up her addiction, he would force her to go to rehab.

She tried to detox on her own but couldn’t. I watched as she writhed on our couch in pain, convinced she was dying as a result of her withdrawal. A good friend of the family, and our roommate at the time, called 911 and my grandparents. I was sent to live with my grandparents “temporarily,” and an ambulance came to pick up my mom. The next day, she was taken to a rehab center, where she committed to getting sober.

Little did I know, this was the beginning of the rest of our lives.

Inexplicable Suffering
Over the following years, I stopped viewing my mom as my mother. How I felt toward her depended on the day, but it mostly ranged from anger to sorrow. Band concerts and academic milestones continued on, but she wasn’t there. I saw other kids with their “normal” moms and was jealous. My jealousy bred anger, and I made up my mind that I wouldn’t care enough about my own mom to let her hurt me by her absence.

When she was fresh out of her first round of recovery, she lived about an hour and a half away on the Oregon coast, where I’d visit. Halfway through a hike we took together, she wanted to take pictures with me at one particularly gorgeous viewpoint. As she explained that she wanted to have memories with her son, I immediately thought, I’m not your son. My genuine frustration and teenage rebellion resulted in my outright refusal of her request. I cried and screamed at her that I was tired of pictures and wanted to go home, refusing to make clear my true feelings. This interaction characterized our relationship for the next five years.

In 2020, the world shut down. My mom moved in with my grandparents and me, and we spent six months together, barely leaving the house except to go to work. After a brief relapse, my mom had been sober for a few years, but her health was beginning to decline. Bedridden, with an IV and feeding tube, she was in immense and constant pain.

Yet, in the middle of her disease and the COVID-19 lockdowns, I witnessed something extraordinary. My mom was given the strongest faith I’ve seen. No matter when I saw her, she was continuously worshiping—reading Scripture, singing, and praying. Unable to work, she took to online ministry and developed a modest following. She used her story of suffering to encourage others and share the gospel. As she read God’s words to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My power is made perfect in weakness”—she stopped praying for healing and instead prayed for God to glorify himself in her weakness.

Inexplicable Grace
In those days, I often went to bed later than I should have because I’d go to her room and check on her. We’d talk for hours about everything from YouTubers to eschatology.

I witnessed something extraordinary. My mom was given the strongest faith I’ve seen.


God transformed her in her suffering and used this to peel away the bitterness in my heart. With each passing day, God’s love was poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), leading me to forgive my mom as Christ had forgiven me—and as he’d forgiven her (Eph. 4:31–32). Because of our circumstances, my relationship with her grew deeper than it could have otherwise. I had no father in my life to teach me the ways of Christ, but she taught me much about him in those six months. My faith is indebted to her.

After about six months, I went to college. Soon after, she headed to the ICU. A few weeks later, I flew home to be there when she was taken off life support.

She was supposed to go quickly, but instead, she fought on for eight long hours. She barely had enough energy to look around. Unable to speak because of the ventilator, she opened her eyes at the sound of my voice. She began to scan the room, her head moving slowly and weakly. I quickly tried to get into her vision. Her eyes met mine, and her entire face and body softened immediately. I almost made out a smile.

Where there had once been hatred toward her, only love remained. I choked out the words “I love you,” and as I did, her eyes closed. She would spend the rest of her life unconscious.

That was our last late night together. In the middle of the night, she finally beheld Christ in the way she longed for.

All Suffering Will End
The truth is, we won’t always see good from our suffering on this side of eternity. Look to Hebrews 11 for a wonderful list of people who suffered greatly and didn’t see their reward in this life.

Where there had once been hatred toward her, only love remained.


Yet Christians will surely see their eventual glorification in heaven (Rom. 8). We’ll see the redemption of the universe and God’s glory triumph over every evil in this world. On that long-anticipated final day, we’ll stand as God wipes every tear from our eyes, just as Revelation 21 promises.

Our hope is that our God is greater than any suffering, and he who wrought our redemption through Christ’s suffering can also bring redemption through our suffering.

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Caleb Orella (BA, Grand Canyon University) is pursuing his MDiv at Phoenix Seminary. He belongs to Redemption Church Arcadia in Phoenix.

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08/26/2025

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08/22/2025

13 tests that every Christian must pass

By Joseph Mattera, Op-ed Contributor Thursday, August 21, 2025
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Scripture is replete with examples of divine tests — seasons and circumstances God allows His people to pass through to reveal and refine the condition of their hearts.

Unfortunately, many believers today misunderstand the purpose of testing and trials. When hardship arises, they assume it’s either demonic or due to their failure. However, a mature view of God’s dealings helps us recognize that even our tests are redemptive, purposeful, and fatherly.

The objective of this article is to equip the people of God to understand His ways more deeply so they can mature into the image of Christ. Every test, if responded to in faith, can be a catalyst for spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God.

Here are 13 kinds of divine tests Christ followers face:

1. The test of lack

Example: The Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16–17).

When God led His people out of Egypt, He deliberately brought them into the wilderness — a place with no visible provision. Why? To test what was in their hearts (Deut. 8:2). Sadly, the Israelites failed this test. Instead of trusting the God who had just split the Red Sea, they grumbled and fantasized about returning to Egypt.

This test reveals whether we trust God when resources are scarce. Will we trust Jehovah Jireh even when the pantry is empty, or will we panic, complain, and revert to old comforts?

2. The test of suffering

Example: Job.

Job didn’t suffer because he was unrighteous but because he was righteous. God even said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?” (Job 1:8). His suffering was a test of integrity, faith, and perseverance.

This test exposes whether we love God for who He is or for what He gives. The mature believer says with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

3. The test of praise

Proverbs 27:21 — “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.”

Praise is a strange but subtle test. Can we receive applause without being seduced by it? Many leaders have fallen, not because of hardship, but because of flattery. This test reveals whether we crave the affirmation of man more than the approval of God.

4. The test of affluence

Example: Solomon.

Prosperity is often a more difficult test than poverty. When Solomon was humble, he asked for wisdom. But in his later years, affluence and compromise eroded his devotion.

Can God trust you with wealth without it corrupting your heart? This test reveals whether your heart worships the giver or the gifts.

5. The test of spiritual warfare

Ephesians 6:10–13.

Spiritual warfare isn’t a side issue — it’s a constant reality. Paul reminds us to put on the full armor of God to withstand the evil day.

This test reveals whether we recognize the spiritual dimension behind trials and whether we stand firm or collapse when opposition intensifies. The greater the calling upon your life, the more intense will be the spiritual opposition (1 Cor. 16:9).

6. The test of persecution

Matthew 5:10–12.

Jesus promised that His followers would be persecuted. The early church was forged in the fires of persecution, and history shows the church often thrives under it.

Persecution tests our allegiance. Will we compromise to fit in, or will we stand boldly for truth even if it costs us everything?

7. The test of betrayal

Example: David and Absalom (2 Samuel 15).

There’s no pain like betrayal — especially from those we love and have invested in. David’s own son conspired against him.

This test examines whether we will become bitter or entrust our pain to God. Jesus Himself was denied by Peter and betrayed by Judas, yet He kept His heart pure towards the Father.

8. The test of delayed answers to prayer

Luke 18:1–8 — The persistent widow.

Jesus taught persistence in prayer precisely because delays can be discouraging. Many lose heart when their prayers aren’t immediately answered.

This test reveals whether we trust God’s timing more than our own. Do we continue to pray and believe, or do we give up prematurely?

9. The test of lack of affirmation

Example: David overlooked by his father (1 Samuel 16).

When Samuel came to anoint a king, Jesse didn’t even consider David. Yet God saw what man overlooked.

Many experience this test when their calling isn’t recognized by others. Will you still serve faithfully in obscurity, trusting that God sees and promotes in due time?

10. The test of God’s silence

Psalm 13, Psalm 22.

Sometimes God seems silent when we need Him most. Even David cried, “My God, why have You forsaken me?” Jesus echoed these same words from the cross.

This test reveals whether we walk by faith or only by feelings. Will we trust Him even when we cannot trace Him?

11. The test of loving people unconditionally

John 13:34–35; 1 Corinthians 13.

Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by our love—not by our preaching or miracles. Loving unlovable people, forgiving enemies, and serving without reciprocity is a divine test.

This tests whether we’re walking in the Spirit or merely in emotion. Unconditional love is impossible without the indwelling power of Christ.

12. The test of physiological pain

2 Corinthians 12:7–10.

Paul endured a “thorn in the flesh.” While we can debate the nature of this affliction, what’s clear is that it was a test of weakness. God’s power was made perfect not in Paul’s strength, but in his frailty.

This test asks: Can you glorify God in your body even when it’s broken? Will you declare His faithfulness even through excruciating physical hardships (2 Cor. 11:17-12:8 illustrates the nature of the thorn in the flesh was a demonic being that followed Paul and riled up persecution and outside interference like shipwrecks ...).

13. The test of delayed promises

Example: Abraham waiting for Isaac (Romans 4:17–20, Hebrews 6:19).

Abraham waited decades for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The longer the delay, the more his faith grew. He didn’t waver but was strengthened in faith.

This test reveals whether we can live in hope with patience. Will we believe God even when the promise looks impossible?

Conclusion:

Every believer will face one or more of these tests. Some may cycle through all of them multiple times throughout their life. The goal of testing is never to destroy but to develop. God prunes what He loves and tests what He intends to use.

As James 1:2–4 says:

Beloved, don’t fear the test — embrace it. For on the other side of every test is a greater revelation of God, a deepened character, and a faith refined like gold.

The cross itself was the ultimate test — and the resurrection was the reward. May we, too, pass our tests with perseverance, humility, and hope.

Dr. Joseph Mattera is renowned for addressing current events through the lens of Scripture by applying biblical truths and offering cogent defenses to today's postmodern culture. To order his bestselling books or to join the many thousands who subscribe to his acclaimed newsletter, go to www.josephmattera.org.

08/05/2025

Scripture + Support = Hope

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08/03/2025

Christian Living
6 Psalms for Lamenting Miscarriage
August 3, 2025 | Brittany Allen
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“I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m going to lose this baby too,” I said to my two closest friends. I’d lost two babies already, and I feared our third was soon to leave my womb. The weight of fatigue had lifted from my eyelids; smells were no longer offensive. The only thing making me nauseated was the sorrow on the horizon.

A couple of days later, as I listened to John Piper preach about how “the secret things belong to the LORD” (Deut. 29:29), I thought of the secret place of my womb. I wanted, desperately, to peer into it, to know if my baby was alive. The next day, on Father’s Day, we lost our third baby.

Lord, why do you keep taking our babies? My wailing was that of a woman who had been thrust into grief over and over. Grief upon grief. I knew that God grieved death—that he grieved the death of all three of our babies. But I also knew he’d numbered their days. And the lament of my heart was “Why?”

Psalms Help Us Lament
Lament is a vital aspect of the Christian faith. Mark Vroegop describes lament as “a prayer in pain that leads to trust.” Through lament, we bring all our pain, fears, questions, and emotions and lay them before the throne of the only One who can help us—the One who has promised to help us (Heb. 4:16).

Through lament, we bring our pain before the One who has promised to help us.


But bringing the cries of our heart to God can be hard. We may wonder if it’s OK to be honest with God about how we feel amid deep grief. Thankfully, God has given us the Psalms for this very purpose. Through miscarriage, I learned to lament. Here are six psalms that helped me cry out to God.

1. When You’re Weary with Grief
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief. (6:6–7)

Miscarriage can cause a woman to “drench [her] couch with [her] weeping,” leaving her eyes swollen. Sometimes grief wedges itself in our throats, stealing our ability to speak. In these moments, we recall the comforting truth that the Spirit intercedes for us with groans deeper than words (Rom. 8:26). We can weep before God, knowing he understands the cry of our heart.

2. When You Feel Forgotten by God
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day? (13:1–2)

As my husband and I walked through recurrent loss, “How long, O LORD?” often jumped from my mouth. Psalm 13 is a balm to those who feel forgotten by God. When the heartbeat is undetectable, another pregnancy test is negative, or your arms feel weighed down by emptiness where your baby should be, you may wonder, Does God care? We can bring these sorrows to God and pray, “Father, where are you? Please show yourself to be faithful in my grief.”

3. When You Feel Weak
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also. (31:9)

The emotional, spiritual, and physical trauma of miscarriage can cause weariness that sinks into our bones. When weakness envelops us, we can call out, “God, I cannot fathom making it through this day. Please provide strength; help me to rest in you” (see Matt. 11:28).

4. When You Long for Your Baby
I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
O LORD, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you. (38:8–9)

Grief deeply longs for what was lost. Our bodies bear the memory of the baby who was once nestled in our womb. We can share every longing with our Father: “God, I am crushed by this loss. I yearn to hold my baby, kiss her tiny nose, and watch her grow.”

5. When You Feel Abandoned by Others
My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off. (38:11)

Others’ responses (or lack thereof) can be painful. Well-meaning comments may sting our hearts. Sometimes those we thought would bear our burden are the ones who seem to ignore our pain. We can tell God about this too: “Lord, I feel hurt. Thank you for never standing aloof from my pain.”

6. When You’re Crying Out to God
I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God. (69:3)

King David wailed so loudly and for so long that his throat was parched. We can persistently cry out to God in our grief: “God where are you? I’m weary of praying the same prayers. Please show me your goodness even in the waiting.”

Lament Is Worship
Did you know that questions like “Have you forgotten me, Lord? Why is this happening?” can be a form of worship? When we take our deepest sorrows to God, we’re declaring he’s worthy of holding our hearts and able to heal our pain. We’re demonstrating our trust in him.

We wouldn’t take these questions to someone we don’t trust. We wouldn’t cry out to someone we don’t love. Lament is an act of worship. And lament is an avenue that leads toward healing. As you walk through the grief of miscarriage, use these psalms to help you bring your lament to the God who sees, knows, and cares about your pain.

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Brittany Allen is the author of Lost Gifts: Miscarriage, Grief, and the God of All Comfort. She and her husband, James, have two sons as well as three babies lost to miscarriage. They’re members of Centerville Christian Fellowship. You can find more of Brittany’s writing at her website or subscribe to her newsletter, Treasuring Christ, on Substack.

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07/28/2025

When Satan hinders and God allows: John Piper on discerning spiritual roadblocks
By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Monday, July 28, 2025

Is the obstacle in life a divine redirection or a satanic attack?

That’s the question one listener posed to theologian and pastor John Piper on a recent episode of the "Ask Pastor John" podcast.

The listener, facing what he described as a spiritual and situational “roadblock,” turned to two seemingly contrasting biblical accounts: 1 Thessalonians 2:18, where the Apostle Paul says he was “hindered by Satan,” and Acts 16:6–8, where Paul and his companions are “prevented by the Spirit of Jesus” from entering Asia.

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“[H]ow do you distinguish between being hindered by Jesus versus being hindered by Satan? Or does it even matter?” he asked.

That question, the 79-year-old chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, said, "takes us into one of the deepest mysteries of providence,” adding, “There is no circumstance in your life where God’s governance is not decisive. It’s always decisive.”

Quoting Ephesians 1:11 — “[God] works all things according to the counsel of his will” — Piper emphasized that even when Satan acts, God is ultimately in control.

“God has many different ways of seeing to it that things happen or don’t happen, but whether something happens or doesn’t happen is ultimately in God’s hands.”

Piper, the founder and teacher of Desiring God, acknowledged the complexity of using words like “permit” when describing God’s relation to Satan’s activity: “Since God does nothing aimlessly, pointlessly, therefore His permission is always a plan, a design. He knows what’s coming. If He permits it, it’s designed, it’s planned, it has a purpose.”

Piper turned to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot.

“John 13:2 says, ‘[Satan] put it into the heart of Judas ... to betray him.’ Luke 22:3–4 says, ‘Satan entered into Judas,’” Piper noted. “On the other hand, John 17:12 says that Judas was not kept back from the betrayal by Jesus, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.’”

That Scripture fulfillment, Piper explained, is ultimately God’s doing: “God does His Word. God sees to it that Scripture happens, in the case of Judas.”

According to Piper, the betrayal of Jesus involved multiple actors: Satan, Judas and God, each with different intentions. “Satan meant it for evil. God meant it for good — indeed, for our salvation,” he said, echoing Genesis 50:20.

“In every temptation we face and every trial that we endure, both Satan and God are active, and they have opposite designs,” Piper said. “God is always proving your faith and your obedience. Satan is always seeking to destroy your faith and undermine your obedience.”

“You can know that with absolute certainty,” he said. “In this moment of hindrance in your life’s direction, Satan is aiming at your unbelief and your sin, and God is aiming at your faith and your holiness.”

Piper outlined a practical process for discerning how to respond to a perceived hindrance:

Renounce sin: “Wherever you see sin in yourself or in others, renounce it; turn away from it. Don’t let it have a decisive influence on your decision.”

Evaluate the fork in the road: “Should I accept these hindrances as from Satan or from God? Should I try to overcome it, or should I yield to it?”

Consider one's gifts, opportunities, desires and fruit: “Which direction has God prompted me by the Spirit to want deeply and persistently? What fruit could come from either of these paths?”

Apply Scripture and seek counsel: “Saturate all of those factors with biblical principles and with prayer for God’s help while you listen to the godly counsel of other people.”

“If you do those things, God will make it plain whether you should embrace the hindrance or overcome it,” he said.

In a previous episode of the podcast, Piper said God uses Satan to strengthen and purify believers during times of trouble despite the devil's evil intentions.

God baffles Satan by making him the instrument of the very thing he hates — namely, trust in God and holiness in life," Piper said, adding that "if we see Satan's hand in our suffering, it doesn't mean that the suffering has no good design from our loving Father."

Piper noted that God "has the right to bring comfort and calamity into our lives" and that "He owes us nothing" and "we don't deserve anything from Him."

"We can't negotiate with Him. He has done us no wrong," he adds. "His ways are high. We will understand by-and-by, even if we don't now."

Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com