But one primary thought – a simple phrase – seems to encompass all of my musings as of late. It’s a glorious phrase as old and true as sunsets are beautiful.
“God is faithful.”
What does it mean for God to be faithful? Definition: “worthy of trust; keeping one’s promise; loyal.” These are a few definitions of the word “faithful.” Our God fulfills all of these and so much more.
He is worthy of our trust; He keeps His promises.
Last year I learned a great deal about trusting my Master. He taught me the sweetness of letting go, of refusing to rely on my own plans and choosing instead to lean on Him. He has stayed by my side even when I questioned deep down what He was up to. He has removed roadblocks and cleared the brush from my path, revealing the sunlight ahead.
He has answered prayers.
Yes, He is faithful. Even when our faith wanes, He remains faithful.
Does He have any reason to be faithful to me? Is He under any oath to bless me or binding contract that demands He must be ever loyal in the relationship I have with Him?
I have done nothing deserving of His faithfulness. Just like His eternal, sacrificing love, His faithfulness is unconditional.
It breaks my heart to think that so many people treat such a loyal, loving God as if He’s cheated them. They get upset with Him. They blame Him for the hardships in their lives. They tell themselves, “God’s never done anything for me.”
Oh really? More likely they have never done anything for Him.
What makes them so deserving of the blessings they claim God is not giving them? What have they done to earn the life of pain-free happiness that they expect Him to dish out? Being the antithesis of loyal and true to Him, how can they demand that He dissolve all their problems and smooth every rocky mess that they’ve created?
And yet He does not give up on them. Though they have spit in His face, He refuses to abandon them. Though they have slandered Him by claiming that He is harsh and unfair, He has remained more faithful than they could ever imagine. He wants to be their Lord, their Guide. Their Master. He wants to light their way onto the path that He has chosen for them. A path that leads away from the death-road they chose for themselves and into unending life through Him. If only they will swallow their pride and realize that He doesn’t owe them anything.
He doesn’t owe us anything … but He offers us everything if we will simply trust Him.
That is ultimate faithfulness.
I think I’ve realized that although God doesn’t owe me anything – He doesn’t have to answer my prayers or speak to my heart or light my path – He does these things anyway because … well why does He do it?
I guess I’ll never know the answer other than that it’s part of His unconditional love and faithfulness. Just one of the defining aspects which makes Him the unbelievably amazing God that He is.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” ~ II Timothy 2:13
"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” ~ Deuteronomy 7:9
