nothing can be needful that He withholds

Newton on God's providence

As I have said, I'm trying to read a few less books (ironic, perhaps), and I am taking a break from anything by Keller. But there are a few Kellerisms that I have been pondering for a little while now, and I want to investigate them a little more. One of them is an oft-quoted statement on providence from John Newton, "everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds."

It comes from a letter from Newton to a church member. I think it's worth quoting the whole thing, in sections, and reflecting upon:

You see I am mindful of my promise; and glad should I be to write something that the Lord may be pleased to make a word in season. I went yesterday into the pulpit very dry and heartless. I seemed to have fixed upon a text, but when I came to the pinch, it was so shut up that I could not preach from it. I had hardly a minute to choose, and therefore was forced to snatch at that which came first upon my mind, which proved 2 Tim. i. 12. Thus I set off at a venture, having no resource but in the Lord's mercy and faithfulness; and, indeed, what other can we wish for? Presently my subject opened; and I know not when I have been favoured with more liberty. Why do I tell you this? Only as an instance of His goodness, to encourage you to put your strength in Him, and not to be afraid even when you feel your own weakness and insufficiency most sensibly. We are never more safe, never have more reason to expect the Lord's help, than when we are most sensible that we can do nothing without Him. This was the lesson Paul learnt, to rejoice in His own poverty and emptiness, that the power of Christ might rest upon Him. Could Paul have done anything, Jesus would not have had the honour of doing all. This way of being saved entirely by grace, from first to last, is contrary to our natural wills; it mortifies self, leaving it nothing to boast of, and through the remains of an unbelieving, legal spirit, it often seems discouraging. When we think ourselves so utterly helpless and worthless, we are too ready to fear that the Lord will therefore reject us; whereas, in truth, such a poverty of spirit is the best mark we can have of an interest in His promises and care.

Firstly, I dare say the thought of coming to the pulpit with a text prepared and then finding oneself unable to preach on it is a somewhat frightening one indeed! But it furnishes an occasion for utter dependence. I think I'd call it a mistake to say that one is supposed to deliberately go looking to put oneself into debilitating circumstances just to see God at work more miraculously; that would, I'd argue, be a poor stewardship of the resources he has indeed given us. But whether we abound in resources or lack, he is just as much at work to do his will. Even if we can do everything in ourselves, we in fact can do nothing without him since every good gift is from him anyway.

I find it interesting how Newton draws the connection from how salvation by grace mortifies the self, which indeed is a wondrous and wonderful thing, and yet it can often seem discouraging. Precisely that sense of helplessness can drive us instead to fear of rejection. Yet it ought not and need not. Instead our worth comes in the very act of grace itself, that God so loved and prized us, and no worthlessness of ourself can ever nullify the worthiness set upon us by his great love.

How often have I longed to be an instrument of establishing you in the peace and hope of the Gospel! And I have but one way of attempting it, by telling you over and over of the power and grace of Jesus. You want nothing to make you happy, but to have the eyes of your understanding more fixed upon the Redeemer, and more enlightened by the Holy Spirit to behold His glory. O! He is a suitable Saviour! He has power, authority, and compassion, to save to the uttermost. He has given His word of promise, to engage our confidence, and He is able and faithful to make good the expectations and desires He has raised in us. Put your trust in Him; believe (as we say) through thick and thin, in defiance of all objections from within and without. For this, Abraham is recommended as a pattern to us. He overlooked all difficulties; he ventured and hoped even against hope, in a case which to appearance was desperate; because he knew that He who had promised was also able to perform.

How might we counsel and comfort and console and encourage those in need of peace and peacefulness? There is but one way, though that one way does have a manifold form. It is the preaching and application of the power and grace of Jesus. Different individuals need it in different keys, with different motifs, differing melodies and harmonies and arrangements, but always the one and same salve. Note the way that Newtown draws his correspondent back to trust in the promises of God, God's faithfulness to his word, and his historical faithfulness to his promises past. How do we know that God is trustworthy? He promises, and fulfils.

Your sister is much upon my mind. Her illness grieves me; were it in my power, I would quickly remove it. The Lord can, and I hope will, when it has answered the end for which He sent it. I trust He has brought her to us for good, and that she is chastised by Him that she may not be condemned with the world. I hope, though she says little, she lifts up her heart to Him for a blessing. I wish you may be enabled to leave her and yourself, and all your concerns, in His hands. He has a sovereign right to do with us as He pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain; and to those who seek Him, His sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall work together for good; everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds.

Here we come to the quotation mentioned at the top. The occasion is the correspondent's sister's illness. Here, indeed, is wrestling with divine sovereignty and goodness. How does illness and other misfortune play into God's plans? We certainly would remove all such troubles as soon as possible, but the Lord will remove them when they have performed their function. And yet, the purpose for many illnesses are hidden from us. We should not presume to say, "Ah, I know what the Lord is doing here!", though at times we do catch glimpses of it. If we really believe that God is good, sovereign, and works through all things for the good of those who love him in Christ Jesus, then Newton's final words here are true. Is there something needful in my life for God's purposes? Then it will be here. As I look at the things in my life, all of them are here precisely because they are necessary for his purposes being worked out. This includes evils and sufferings. Is there something that he has withheld, however good, right, proper, and desirable it might be in and of itself? I must rest in the trust that it is not needful at this time, indeed that its presence would not be for my good, and its absence is for my better.

Be content to bear the cross; others have borne it before you. You have need of patience; and if you ask, the Lord will give it: but there can be no settled peace till our will is in a measure subdued. Hide yourself under the shadow of His wings; rely upon His care and power; look upon Him as a physician who has graciously undertaken to heal your soul of the worst of sicknesses, sin. Yield to His prescriptions, and fight against every thought that would represent it as desirable to be permitted to choose for yourself. When you cannot see your way, be satisfied that He is your leader. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you, He knows your path; He will not leave you to sink. He has appointed seasons of refreshment, and you shall find He does not forget you. Above all, keep close to the throne of grace. If we seem to get no good by attempting to draw near Him we may be sure we shall get none by keeping away from Him.

I am, &c.

There is certainly so much good advice in this final section. For me, two things stand out. Firstly, "when you cannot see your way, be satisfied that he is your leader". There are times, probably more often than not, when the way is not clear, God's purposes are not revealed, the greater picture obscured. In these, we are called to trust. Perhaps we might imagine travelling through a dense forest or wilderness at night, the ground hard to see, trees looming out of nowhere, vines and other hazards abundant. Our guide is just in front of us, his hand leads us, and he knows the way. Secondly, in Newton's final exhortations. There may indeed by times where prayer seems futile, where the answer is long delayed, where we sense not his presence nor his goodness. In those times these words are most apropos, "If we seem to get no good by attempting to draw near Him we may be sure we shall get none by keeping away from Him." Persist, endure, keep close to him and his grace. He will not forget you nor fail you.

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