He is Faithful Forever

"His faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100:5).

I’m learning it in real time: God’s faithfulness often looks different than I think it will. From my limited, earthly perspective, circumstances are not panning out how I imagined. The colors God is using to weave the tapestry of my life are not what I would’ve chosen, not my favorites. The design is still looking chaotic and unfinished. There are loose ends dangling, strands that don’t feel like they will ever be tied up. The final product remains unclear.

In this life, I’m often left wondering when or how God will come through - which sometimes turns into wondering if He will at all. The wilderness can begin to feel like my permanent residence as I doubt that God will “make a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19). And as I forget God’s faithfulness - the fact that He is always holding onto me and carrying me through - I start to lose hope, failing to see a way through the wasteland in front of me.

But here’s what is True: God keeps His promises and holds His people.

We read in His Word:

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13).

“His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

“His faithfulness stretches to the skies” (Psalm 36:5).

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

“...his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

In other words:

His faithfulness continues through family lines and failures.

His faithfulness lies outside of our small human understanding.

His record is flawless. He will always fulfill what He says He will.

He is faithful to be our Refuge in the midst of life’s struggles.

His faithfulness does not depend on us - He is the dependable One who never changes.

This is the God who made a covenant with Abraham and put all the weight of it on himself (Genesis 15). He’s the fourth man in the fire, showing up to save His people in the most desperate of times (Daniel 3). He may fail to meet our earthly expectations, but He will never fail to come through on behalf of those who follow Him. Although we can only see the underside, the unfinished product, He is weaving together His story and all of history into the most beautiful tapestry possible.

And then, there’s us…. Like the disciples crying out in the storm, we often have such little faith in His faithfulness (Mark 4). Our “trust” runs out quickly when we catch a glimpse of the waves and begin to question what comes next. We often fail to be faithful when it comes to following Jesus, fumbling into sin and falling in love with lesser things.

But there He is - always forging the way forward. The God who made a way through the Red Sea is always making a way through the waves. While we plod along, He is keeping promises and providing, unveiling His perfect plan.

His faithfulness does not mean that life will not be hard. It means that in fire and storms and raging rivers, He will be with us (Isaiah 43:2) - He will never forsake His people. He will feed our souls even when our flesh suffers or our fragile circumstances crumble (Psalm 73:24-28). He’s the expert Potter, forming us in His faithfulness - turning the wheel and sanctifying us with precision and proficiency that we can trust. And in the end, He will win - victory rests with our King who is called “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11).

And here’s the most amazing part…we have only seen a glimpse of His faithfulness. One day we will see the tapestry He has woven and understand all that He has really done. We will comprehend all that He has orchestrated in our lives and protected us from; the miracles He has performed under the radar. We will learn about the prayers that He answered and the promises He kept. And then - how we will worship! Because while we’ve been wandering and wondering, He’s been making a way and weaving something more wonderful than we could’ve ever imagined.

One day we will hear it from His lips: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). And although we have failed to be faithful time and time again, in His faithfulness He will usher us into fullness of life with Him forever.

(I was inspired by this poem by Corrie Ten Boom while writing this post)