Now there’s a word that conjures up a ton of definitions and emotions, right? So let me narrow that down a bit so we’re all on the same [blog] page.
I’m talking about God’s faithfulness to us. Not that of a husband or wife, or a beloved pet, or anyone or anything else that you want to rely upon. More in the arena depicted in our photo – the sun always comes up again, because God has ordained it to do so.
Our church family is going through a heartbreaking season right now and, as I was looking for songs for last Sunday’s service that could help us process that, I landed on a new one by Shane and Shane entitled, “You’ve Already Won.” The song reminds us that whatever battles we are currently fighting in our lives, God has already won the ultimate battle over sin and death.
There’s one simple phrase in the song that has become for me a practical, relatable definition of faithfulness.
“Don’t know what you’re doing, but I know what you’ve done.”
Is it just me, or do we all live our lives so often wondering what God is up to? I hate to admit how many times I’ve literally said out loud, “Really, God?” The junk of this world – the tragedies, the heartbreaks, the inconveniences, the detours, the unfulfilled dreams – can cause us to cry out to God for some level of understanding.
We often have no idea what God is doing. And much of that time, we aren’t necessarily big fans. So, we quite easily relate to that first phrase – “Don’t know what you’re doing.”
Deuteronomy 29:29 tell us, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” Simply put, we will never understand everything that God does, because … He is God and we are not.
But let’s not stop there. I want to explore the hope and confidence that the second half of the statement gives to us. “But I know what you’ve done.”
How does that simple statement speak to how we can develop an unfailing trust in God and his faithfulness to us?
Have you ever seen God come through for you via an answer to prayer? Or a blessing deposited in your life when you needed it most? Or a peace that came upon you in the midst of chaos? Or a scripture text or song lyrics or devotional or sermon that spoke directly to your heart at a critical time?
If we’re able to see those times as decidedly from the hand of God, we can confidently say, “Look what God has done.”
If, like me, you’ve had a lifetime of “God-encounters” like that, it eventually helps you realize that God has an amazing track record. In HIS way, he always comes through for us, even if and especially if, we don’t understand what he’s doing.
What if you haven’t had enough of those experiences to help you trust God? Do you have Christian friends or family members whose lives have been deeply touched by God’s faithfulness to them? Why not let those stories give you hope that God will keep every promise he makes to us.
Or better yet, as a first or last resort, go directly to God’s Word to read story after story of how God was faithful to his people despite their unfaithfulness to him.
We have options on where we look to see what God has done! Your life, the lives of your friends and the Bible.
Regardless of how you arrive there, we must realize that God can be trusted because he has come through time and time again. It is his unchanging character to be faithful to us.
On a personal level, it’s how I know that God will always give me the words to say, whether it’s this weekly blog post, or a book, or a presentation, or a difficult letter to write. He has always shown up at the perfect time with the perfect message. I can take it to the divine bank.
So the next time you find yourself wondering what God is doing, take a step back and reflect upon the ways he has shown his faithfulness to you, listen well, and then trust him with your current challenge or dilemma. I sincerely believe he will give you one more reason to trust him the next time.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
Psalm 40:11
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