In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been meditating on a particular aspect of God’s character – His faithfulness.
That sounds like I initiated it. I didn’t.
About three weeks ago, I read a devotional in the beautiful book Becoming and Beholding by Ruth Chou Simons. (She’s incredible, by the way.) It showed how the rhythms of our mundane, everyday lives actually push us to see God’s sovereignty. The rising and setting of the sun mark our days faithfully, every day, every year. God displays his constancy in the very structure of our lives. The sunset not only radiates God’s beauty and grace but also reminds every living being that today has ended like it started. God is faithful to keep the earth spinning.
He is faithful in the mundane, and he promises to be faithful in the details. We are much more than the sparrows flying across the pink-burnt sky. We are loved so much more.
I meditated on Micah Tyler’s song “New Today.”
Help me rise like the morning sun
Help me see that Your work is not done
When I’m less than what I want to be
Lord, I need You to keep reminding me
That Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new today
I can rest on Your shoulders
There is grace to start over
Your mercies are new today
This song became my anthem in the next two weeks. How could I finish the task set before me? How could I take that next step? How could I climb this mountain?
The answer was, indeed, his faithfulness. His faithfulness would keep me going.
God’s faithfulness is much more than a fact. It’s a truth that acts – and changes people.
Here are three ways God’s faithfulness applies to people:
God’s Faithfulness is Comforting
When we believe entirely in God’s sovereignty, his eternal reality, and his promise-keeping, we’re able to lay down our burdens. We don’t have to strive to get results. We work hard and leave the fruit up to him. We no longer need to stress over the future and drown in our anxiety because we know we’ll wake each morning to a sky painted by his hand. He’ll lead us gently through the pastures and the valleys of deathly shadows, all of our lives.
Each time we tread through a new dark valley, we can remember His past faithfulness to us. We can trust His word: He will never leave us nor forsake us.
God’s Faithfulness is Humbling
Every attribute of God, when contrasted to yourself, is unattainable and expansive. God is so incredibly faithful that he doesn’t stop holding the universe together, even for one second. He is devoted to the promises he’s kept despite mankind’s constant obstinance. He is God – no matter what.
We are fickle. We change – and I am a prime example of this. I may very well be the queen of mood swings. I’ll be laughing one minute and crying fifteen minutes later.
When our fickle nature is faced with his overwhelming, gracious faithfulness, we’re reminded that we can’t do it. Any consistency and commitment in our lives is his work in us.
When we feel discouraged and stuck, we remember that God is transforming us to the image of Christ, no matter how hard it is to see sometimes. He is faithful – and He transforms us.
God’s Faithfulness is Freeing
God is the one who promised:
‘And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ‘Philippians 1:6
God is faithful, so we will be sanctified. We will be brought into glory. It’s his work. Period.
We can then choose to live well and love others. We work strenuously and run the race. We reach towards the prize – but we haven’t won it. Jesus purchased eternal life for us through his sacrifice on the cross. His faithfulness to redeem us and His commitment to sanctify and glorify us give us the freedom to live without shame or fear.
God keeps His promises. He will bring His work in us to completion, so we don’t have to fret. We can live fully with everything we have.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
God’s faithfulness is a guiding, reassuring force in our daily steps. As we remind ourselves of the truths mentioned, we can live each moment confidently. We can sing, full-heartedly, breathing at ease:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
