The Enduring Faithfulness of God

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

(Psalm 136:1 ESV)

 

My life, over the past couple of years, has been quite turbulent. Without going into details, essentially every aspect of my life has been upended. While in years prior, even while there were transitions and changes, things were stable and predictable, I’ve now had a couple of years where that has been anything but the case.

 

I’m now entering yet another phase of transition where the answers, and where God’s leading, are not as clear as they had once been. And I don’t mean to say that I’m in a period of doubt or questioning. The next step, and the direction for the future, just hasn’t been obvious.

 

In the face of this uncertainty, Psalm 136 is a tremendous comfort. The first line, which is seen above, begins a recounting of the works of God throughout history. It recounts the blessings that he poured out upon his people again and again. And each phase ends with the refrain: “for his steadfast love endures forever.”

 

The word “steadfast” is key. This word indicates that the love of God is constant. It indicates that, in all things, God is faithful.

 

We often think of faithfulness in terms of our faithfulness to God. And when we’re honest with ourselves, it’s clear that we are not always faithful to him. Our love for him is not constant and enduring.

 

But God, on the other hand, is completely reliable. Even when our lives seem turbulent, he is faithful. And even when we are undeserving, his love for us endures.

 

What this Psalm does is recount for the people the past faithfulness of God. And, as it does so, it encourages them for both the present and the future. It assures them that, if God has always been faithful to us, and if his love has endured, we can expect no less now or in the days and years to come.

 

In the same way, I realize that I can look back on my life and see the ways in which God has worked. Like the Psalmist, I can recite the refrain again and again: “for his steadfast love endures forever.” And this provides me with both comfort and hope in the trials I now face.

 

Even though I do not yet have the answers I seek, I know that God, who has always been faithful, and whose love has never failed me, will remain faithful. He will lead. He will provide.

 

Someday, I’ll look back on this experience, and it will be one mere phrase in the history of God’s faithfulness and love. It will be one phrase in the history of his faithfulness to me and to the people of God. And the refrain will once again bear repeating: “for his steadfast love endures forever.”