Great is Thy Faithfulness
I grew up singing hymns. I remember the old hymn books – the colour, the print, the smell. I remember the hymn books in some churches I visited had the music score with the words written under the notes. As a child who found music fascinating, I loved to follow along on the music and challenge myself to sing the alto line or the tenor line and sometimes even the bass (which was way too low for my voice but so fun to sing.)
Of course, as I grew older it wasn’t just the rich harmonies of the music that captured my heart, it was the words. Such deep, solid doctrine is found in the words of those old hymns. And as I sang them over and over and as I grew, the truth of God and His great love for me, was being written on my heart. I can still remember most of the words today. And they still bring me great comfort.
One of my favourites was, and still is, Great is Thy Faithfulness. I just love this old hymn. The words are so rich and powerful, and they declare the very character of God. They speak of God’s unfailing faithfulness to us, His unending mercies, His provision in our lives daily and His unchanging nature. We live in a world of constant change, nothing stays the same for long. Things around us are always being upgraded or updated. There’s always something bigger and better around the corner. It seems my phone is always alerting (nagging!) me to update my apps.
But in the midst of all this change and chaos, our God is steadfast and faithful. His character never changes. We have a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The God we serve today is the same God who spoke the world into being, the same God who repeatedly forgave and led the Israelites, the same God who showed such compassion for and taught His disciples, the same God who, while we were still sinners sent His son to die for us, to make us clean before a Holy God (Romans 5:8).
What an incredibly loving and faithful God we serve! Our God is rich in love and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15). How can we not praise him?
Can I encourage you to spend some time this week reflecting on God’s great faithfulness to you? And thank Him.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
