One of the most striking differences I have observed between people who have faith and those who don’t is the different ways they view God’s power.

Yes, God is powerful. My atheist friends find this idea offensive, antagonistic, and morally repugnant. If God is powerful, then evil must be his fault, suffering must be his will, and this life is a test of whether we will submit to the one who beats us down.

I am currently translating the Psalms, and was struck by the oddness of Psalm 117:2:

For his grace has prevailed over us and the truth of the ʟᴏʀᴅ is forever. Hallelujah!

The word I have translated “prevailed” here means “conquered” or “overpowered.”

So, yes, God does indeed overpower us. The Bible says this.

But look again, more carefully. Look at what it is that overpowers us—his grace. God does not delight in using his power to crush the weak. That is not what the Psalm celebrates. God has great power, yes, but this is not how he wants to overpower you.

Many of us know people in our lives that use power to try and coerce relationship. They claim to be victims when they’re not. They claim you owe them when you don’t. They use threat to force you to move closer to them on their terms.

But God is not like this.

God prevails over us, God conquers—God wins—through the exercise of his grace. That is his free, unconditional, unmerited forgiveness, mercy and kindness.

Yes, God is powerful. But God is not a bully.

But you will not naturally believe this about God. By nature, we suspect his power. So God overcomes that suspicion by speaking his Word of grace to you: the Gospel of Jesus. The church exists so that you can hear this Gospel and receive this grace.

If you live near Greater Manchester, come and receive God’s grace at Manchester Lutheran Church every Sunday. Join us at 10:45am for coffee and 11:00am for the service: https://mcrlt.ch/sundays/

If you live outside Greater Manchester, you can receive God’s grace online with the Confessional Lutheran Church every Wednesday at 6:00pm: https://lutheran.ch/online-service/