George says to remember God’s faithfulness in the midst of pain

God leads believers through trouble with unseen footprints theologian Timothy George said in a February 10 chapel message to the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College community.

In his introduction of George, Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Seminary and TBC, described George as a model of “deep-seated theological conviction,” noting his “irenic spirit” and “graciousness in engaging others.” Greenway also described George as convictional theologically, collaborative, and cooperative in his approach in dealing with others. George is the founding dean and distinguished professor of divinity of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.

In his opening remarks, George shared his affection for Southwestern Seminary students, noting Southwestern as the only seminary he knows of that has a “Chair of Fire,” the first academic chair of evangelism in theological education, which was established by founder and first president B. H. Carroll and first held by L.R. Scarborough, who succeeded Carroll as president. George said that fire still burns in the hearts of the students today. 

George directed the attention of the assembly to Psalm 77, which shows that prayer, born out of pain, leads believers to question and eventually remember God’s faithfulness when He has led them through trials. 

Psalm 77 is a hymn divided into four stanzas, George asserted, calling it a “composition in four movements.”

The first stanza, George explained, covers the troubles that are born out of “the depths.” George observed the psalm was written by a person suffering in pain and enduring sleepless nights because of unspecified troubles. These troubles cause the psalmist to cry out to God, he said, while noting that “all genuine theology begins in pain,” but that pain leads to sincere prayer. 

“Prayer does not start with recitation and memorization,” George said. But sincere prayer “is born in the deeper innards of your heart.” He noted the psalmist uses images of drowning and being stuck in a pit to describe the depths of the troubles that have caused him to cry out to God. 

George highlighted questions in the second stanza, posed by the psalmist, that contain “a deep inquisition against the character of God” pointing to Exodus 34 where the Lord reveals Himself to Moses as slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He also pointed out that, as the psalmist questions the very character and goodness of God, believers should also be encouraged to bring questions and doubts to God because He welcomes both.

“There is no Easter Sunday that does not go through Good Friday,” he said. “There is no glorious resurrection morning that has not experienced, first of all, the suffering and agony of Calvary. Bring it to God.”

George said that the psalmist’s turning point occurs in verse 11 where he remembers who God is and remembers His faithfulness. He said God uses the Bible to reveal Himself to believers, letting them know they are not alone in this world, and reminding them of His true character. 

“Remember who God is and remember what He has done,” George urged the gathering.

Closing the sermon, George pointed the assembly’s attention to verses 19 and 20 where the psalmist concludes that God’s footprints are often unseen. He observed that while the devil’s footprints are evident in culture, television, and the internet, God’s footprints are often difficult to perceive. However, he said, they are real, nonetheless. 

God’s footprints “lead through the sea,” George concluded. “They lead through the depths where He has gone before us, where He walks beside us because He lives within us, and He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.” 

George received the Southwestern Seminary Lifetime Academic Achievement Award in November 2021. He has authored more than 20 books, including Galatians, Reading Scripture with Reformers, Amazing Grace: God’s Pursuit, Our Response, and co-authored Theologians of the Baptist Tradition. 

George’s entire message can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.edu/live.