So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning... (Job 42.12)
I don't know who first coined the phrase "God never closes a door without opening a window," although that line always makes me think of The Sound of Music, but I came across a similar sentiment in the Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations of Richard Sibbes, Works, Vol. 7, p. 200:
143. It is a true rule in divinity, that God never takes away any blessing from his people but he gives them a better. When Elijah was taken from Elisha into heaven, God doubled his Spirit upon Elisha. If God takes away wife or children, he gives better things for them. The disciples parted with Christ's bodily presence, but he sent them the Holy Ghost.
That gives us a very positive outlook when it seems God is handing us a harsh providence. We can look with expectation for the greater blessing to come!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add a ditto to what Ruby said. This came into my reader the other day at a good time and was comforting.
ReplyDeleteThere is at least one other Puritan who made a very similar statement (they borrowed heavily from one another, didn't they?), but Sibbes will do, so thanks for giving me this citation.
ReplyDeleteThe other fellow, as yet unnamed, used a different proof-text, namely Christ's ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit.
"God never removes one blessing, but what He gives a greater." It is sometimes a hard truth for people to hear, but it causes us to look with anticipation at what the Lord will do.
(addendum): I should have said, the other fellow only used the one proof-text of the sending of the Holy Spirit.
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