The Hidden Smile of God

Has John Piper ever NOT hit a homerun with any book he’s written?  I tell you, the guy amazes me.  If ever I need the truth, the real stuff, the perspective that takes me away from the fluff of our cultural Christianity and back to the truth of God’s Word, it’s him (and the Bible, of course!).

You’d think I’d turned into Jeff for all the dabbling I’m doing in different books–that is not my character. I’m a serial monogamous reader, Jeff is a polygamous reader.  (I stick with one book to the end then move to another, Jeff reads about 10 at a time…all stacked on the nightstand by our bed).  At any rate, I opened up a book of Piper’s called The Hidden Smile of God, a book about the fruit of affliction in the lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd.  Bunyard and Brainard I was somewhat familiar with, but I hadn’t even heard of Cowper.  But listen to this hymn, perhaps you know it, written by a man whose life was filled with grief and sorrow.

Deep in unfathomable mines

of never failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs

and works His sovereign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

but trust Him for His grace;

behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

unfolding every hour;

the bud may have a bitter taste

but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

and scan His work in vain:

God is His own interpreter,

and He will make it plain. 

Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.  Be encouraged today by the hidden smile of God.