The Faithfulness of God
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
God is faithful. God is dependable, reliable and trustworthy. You can count on God any day, any time, for any situation. Faithfulness is a function of who God is; faithfulness is God’s nature and character. From generation to generation, God has remained faithful (Psalm119:90). No generation has passed through this earth that hasn’t had wonderful and awesome testimonies to share of the faithfulness of God.
God’s faithfulness is incomparable (Psalm 89:8). No one keeps to their word or promises like God does. God is not like man that promises and fails, promises and forgets (Numbers 23:19). God does what He says He will do. No one can match God in loyalty, steadfastness and trustworthiness. God’s faithfulness is not dependent on how faithful we are. Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
God’s faithfulness is seen in how He keeps His promises. God has promised us that He will preserve our lives, He will preserve our going out and our coming in (Psalm 121:8). Think of how many times you are on the road in a year. The number of times you have travelled in your lifetime. The events you have attended in different places and locations. The reason why you have gone to so many places and come back safely home, there has been no missing persons report filed concerning you, your family and friends aren’t running helter-skelter trying to raise ransom money to give kidnappers to release you, or no one has been called to identify your body amongst victims of a ghastly accident, is simply because God has kept to His Word to preserve you in your going out and coming in.
Some of us have literally been through the valley of the shadow of death, we have had near death experiences. We have been through difficult situations, turbulent storms that could have ended anybody’s life, but death couldn’t hold us captive because of God’s promise to be with us no matter what we are going through (Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 43:2). Through all our pains, troubles and challenges of life, God has remained a faithful refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
God’s faithfulness is also seen in how He forgives. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So many sins, so many mistakes, so many blunders, but every time we call on God to forgive us, He forgives. Never has there been a time that God has driven us away, shoved us away from His presence saying you are to filthy to come near me. He hasn’t in anger shouted at us, I won’t tolerate this nonsense anymore, no more forgiveness for you. God hasn’t treated us as our sins deserve. Even when our sins are like scarlet; we have done terrible, unimaginable things, God forgives us (Isaiah 1:18). When family members, friends, colleagues, even church members don’t want to have anything to do with us because of the mistakes we have made in life, the sins we have committed, God opens His arms of love, mercy and forgiveness to us ( Psalm 27:10). No wonder David said “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5).
Every good thing that has happened in our lives, every testimony we have received, came as a result of God’s faithfulness (Isaiah 25:1). Recalling, reflecting on and recounting God’s faithfulness is an antidote for discouragement and depression. In Lamentations 3:19-20, the prophet’s heart sank, his spirit was low, he was sad and gloomy when he thought of, dwelled on and focused on the afflictions and problems in his life. But when there was a switch in his mind and thoughts from his present affliction, pains, challenges and unmet needs, to recalling the faithfulness of God, the things God had done for him, there was hope, there was life, there was strength (Lamentations 3:21-22).
God’s faithfulness in times past, God’s faithfulness which we assured will be seen in years to come, should motivate and inspire us to hold tightly to God (1 Thessalonians 1:24) knowing that He who called us will never fail us or disappoint us, He is faithful to do superabundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness to me. Lord, let me never lose sight of Your faithfulness in my life or take Your faithfulness for granted. O Lord, every morning, every day of my life, let me experience Your faithful love. By Your faithfulness, let me receive wonderful, uncommon testimonies this year, in Jesus mighty name I pray.
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