God's Arms

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 131 ESV). I was doing some research recently and in pursuit of a thought concerning the “bosom” of God, I ran into a little quote from Calvin. He wrote that prayer draws us into God’s “bosom” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.xx.5). I know for some that might be considered “light” reading, however, it is deeper than at first glance. Calvin went on to say that it is “when we are embraced by loving arms, held close to the heart of God, that we pour out our souls.” Our reading gives us that image. It is in prayer that we are held in God’s arms much like a parent would soothe their child close to their heart. This image is especially poignant to me. When Kyle was little he had reflux and was a very difficult baby to feed. It was not unusual for me to come home in the evening and give him his last bottle while holding him in my arms and rocking him to sleep. Because of the reflux he wouldn’t stay asleep very long, so my solution was to simply lay him on my chest, lean back in the recliner and fall asleep with him in that position. It seemed the only way to comfort him. Imagine that same comfort and quiet should we be the child and God holding us near him. This is Calvin’s insistence. Calvin taught that prayer is how we develop an intimate relationship with God. We respond in love to the God who first loved us. We receive the blessings of the One who is the fountain of goodness. In the attitude of prayer we realize that God is “wholly present to us” (Institutes, III.xx.2). Our prayer then flows from “this sweetness of love” (Institutes, III,xx.28). The reformer used the same word to describe our intimacy with God—dulcedo, “sweetness”—as did Catholic mystics like Bernard of Clairvaux or Richard of St. Victor. In prayer all who love God rest in God’s loving arms. I know you must be thinking, “thanks for the theology lesson, but what does that do for me?” Well, let’s get specific. It gives you the real means of not only praying, but knowing that your prayers are heard and answered. Don’t get turned toward whether the answers are positive or negative; it is the answering of God that is the real miracle. After all, isn’t it amazing that the Creator of all would stoop at all to listen to us and comfort us in our plight? We have that kind of loving heavenly Father. That instills confidence as we pray; and, it gives us comfort as we suffer through our plight. Your prayers are never too lofty for Him; your requests are never too great. Pray often. Believe always. Trust implicitly. You are in God’s arms forever.