Great is His Faithfulness, Indeed
Curious, I typed “how many promises does God make in the bible” into the search bar. The answers were inconsistent. My top result was 8,810, followed by a site that claimed 7,487. Further down the list noted 5,467. Although the exact number is still unclear to me, I am sure of this: God’s promises will not be broken. Whether 1 million promises or 2, God is firm in His adherence to His words. His faithfulness is another part of His unchanging character on which we can rely.
God’s faithfulness is evident through the story of scripture. He is consistent and utterly dependable in the lives of His children. His faithfulness is showcased through His covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David in the Old Testament. We see His constancy in the incredible ways He orchestrates their circumstances to accomplish His promises. He is the God who parts the Red Sea, slays giants with a stone, and provides for His people despite their wavering hearts.
And then, in a magnificent display of His faithfulness and love, He sent His Son to us. Jesus’s death and resurrection sealed the new covenant — God’s promise of everlasting love and deep relationship with His children. God’s word holds all the evidence we need to cling to His faithfulness. The choice is ours to uncover it.
My heart cannot deny His faithfulness when He steps into my circumstances and accomplishes His promises. Often, He comes when I least expect Him or feel like hope is lost. Sometimes, I wait for a season, or many seasons, until one day, I realize I’m living in the days of a fulfilled promise. God’s faithfulness always reveals itself. It is ever present in our lives because God is ever-present.
And yet, each time a new set of challenging circumstances comes my way, I find myself asking God, why?
Why did that young man die unexpectedly?
Why do I have cancer?
Why are certain relationships so challenging?
Why God, why?
If you often ask God why, you are not alone. However, trusting God’s faithfulness is the antidote to our desire to understand the reasons for our trials. When we grasp God’s promises for us and His guarantee to accomplish them, our whys fade in the light of His word.
Every day we live on earth, we have a choice: Will we focus on the details of our circumstances or God's faithfulness? Like any discipline, the more regularly we practice turning our attention to God’s word, the more natural it becomes. Over time, our whys diminish as we live on the firm foundation of God’s faithfulness.
God’s faithfulness is not some far-off promise of good to come but rather a constant commitment to provide everything we need right where we are. Our difficulties magnify God’s faithfulness, allowing us opportunities to see His strength, provision, wisdom, and love.
I know the depth of God’s faithfulness because of the depth of my trials. If my life were nothing but a collection of ease and comfort, I would not know my need for His faithfulness. Our trials push us toward our Savior, establishing our dependence on Him. They confirm His faithfulness over and over again.
Let these promises from your faithful God encourage you today:
God promises rest for the weary. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
God promises peace in your heart. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3
God promises to guide & teach you. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8
God promises strength. “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
God promises forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Friend, I don’t know what lies before you or what hard realities your life includes. But I know a God who promises to meet you where you are and provide everything you need to walk through the hard days with strength and confidence. Great is His faithfulness, indeed!