Today’s confession addresses this issue. God in his providence allows his children to face temptations for a time, so that they will not only face the truth of their own deceitful hearts, but also draw his children to depend on him more.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death…” When we repent of our sins, when we turn to God both for help and salvation, he shows us a better way. He shows us he is the only way. Apart from him we can do nothing.

Paul later goes on in the same letter in 2 Cor. 12:7-10, to keep him from being conceited by all these great revelations he received, God sent him a thorn in his flesh to torment him. Three times Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but instead God said “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul concludes that he will boast more gladly about his weakness so that Christ’s power may rest on him. For Christ’s sake, he will delight in weaknesses, in insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties because when he is weak, then he is strong.

God in his providence will use even our weaknesses to draw us to rely on his grace against future occasions for sinning and to fulfill his other holy purposes. His grace truly is sufficient for us for his power is made perfect in weakness.

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God often leaves his own children, for a time, to manifold temptations and to the corruption of their own hearts. He does this to chastise them for their past sins, to humble them by making them aware of the hidden strength of the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, and then to raise them to a closer, more constant dependence upon himself for their support, to make them more watchful against all future occasions for sinning, and to fulfill various other just and holy purposes.

Related posts:

1. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10, Section 1
2. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1, Section 7
3. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 16, Section 5