Is there anything in this world we can truly count on? Even those closest to us cannot always be there for us. Their own problems or circumstances may consume them when we need them the most. But there is One whose faithfulness isn’t based on our feelings or circumstances. God’s faithfulness- His character, His promises, and His consistent track record in Scripture gives us a foundation we can stand on no matter what.
We will go deeper into this aspect of His character, what the Bible says, and how we can learn to rely on Him today.
What Does It Mean That God is Faithful?
God’s Biblical faithfulness stems from His unchanging nature. He is the same “yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) It is just one of the many attributes of God that help us understand His character.
His faithfulness is eternally constant, dependable, and trustworthy. Faithfulness is part of who He is; He cannot be unfaithful!
“If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.” 2 Timothy 2:13.
Contrast this with human faithfulness. Ours depends on our feelings and is inconsistent. We may promise to be faithful but still fall short.
God always keeps His promises, and He has promised to be faithful. If He says He will do something, He does.
God’s Faithfulness in the Bible- His Track Record
The Bible gives us a lengthy documented history of God’s faithfulness. Let’s look at some examples.
Abraham: God promised Abraham a son through his wife Sarah; the chosen heir to make Abraham a great nation and bring blessings to all families of the world. Abraham had to wait 25 years for God’s promised faithfulness, but at age 100, God kept His word.
Joseph: Jacob’s favored son, Joseph, experienced betrayal by his brothers, enslavement, and imprisonment in Egypt. Yet God’s faithfulness shines through every dark chapter of Joseph’s life. God granted him favor and guided his path, bringing good from the evil done to him.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20.
Israel in the wilderness: God led Israel into the wilderness for 40 years to humble and test them. Their spiritual dryness exposed their unbelief but also revealed God’s faithful provision and blessings. He consistently provided manna, water from a rock, quail, and direction as a pillar of cloud and fire, even as the people grumbled against Him.
Jeremiah: The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and killed and captured its people. In one of the most powerful examples of faith over feelings, the prophet Jeremiah stood in the rubble and declared God’s faithfulness. “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23.
Jochebed, mother of Moses: When Pharaoh commanded all newborn Hebrew boys to be drowned in the Nile, Jochebed saves baby Moses with resourcefulness and her absolute trust in God’s faithfulness.
Bible Verses About God’s Faithfulness
Knowing what God’s faithfulness looks like in all situations helps us through the times when our limited understanding causes us to falter. They bring us comfort and hope.
- Psalm 36:5- “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”
- Psalm 89:1-2- “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known…”
- 1 Corinthians 1:9- “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful.”
- 2 Timothy 2:13- “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful…”
- Lamentations 3:22-23- “…his compassions never fail, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness…”
- Deuteronomy 7:9- “he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations…”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24- “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
- Numbers 23:19- “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.”
- Hebrews 10:23- “…he who promised is faithful.”
- Psalm 119:90– “Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”
We see how much God loves to bless us and that He remains faithful even when we may not see it.
Remembering His Faithfulness- Your Own God Moments
God calls us to remember His faithfulness to us throughout Scripture. He’s not just giving a suggestion, however, but a command.
He commanded Israel to remember what He had done-
Deuteronomy 8:2- “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert…”
Joshua 4– As God led His people across the Jordan river into the promised land, He has the priests take up stones to make a memorial as a constant reminder of His faithfulness to them. “These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:7.
Why does God command us to remember Him?
Remembering all He has done for us reminds us to rely on Him, not on ourselves or others. It helps us build confidence in Him when trials inevitably come. Remembering encourages us to praise and worship Him for all He has done. We are a forgetful people!
One way to never forget His faithfulness is to record them in a journal. Has He intervened in your life with healing, kept His word, given a badly-needed provision or a person to help or guide you? All I have to do is go back through my prayer journals and see how He faithfully worked in my life.
You can also start a gratitude journal. It’s a simple but effective way to recognize and appreciate the gifts, blessings, and positive aspects of your life you are grateful for. It helps focus our attention on gratitude towards God and see His faithfulness in action.
How to Rely on God’s Faithfulness
Here are a few suggestions to help you trust in the faithfulness of God:
- Get to know Him- Just as you do in all relationships, we need to cultivate our relationship with Him. Invest time in letting Him into all parts of your life. Read and study His Word. Speak to Him as a friend, identify Him in nature, and be involved in a faith community. You will see a pattern of His faithful, unchanging, truthful, and holy character.
- Learn to hear His voice- We listen to many voices; make His a priority. Listening involves quieting our minds and giving our full attention to what God wants to tell us. If you want to hear the voice of God, practice silence and stillness.
- Bring Him your doubts and fears- Relying on God’s faithfulness doesn’t mean we must pretend everything is fine. Pour out your heart to Him in prayer; release your worries to Him.
- Rest in what you cannot yet see- Faith is trusting His character before we see the outcome (Hebrews 11:1) Read the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Jochebed, the mother of Moses with the focus on God’s faithfulness.
Reflection Questions
Just as God called Israel to remember His faithfulness, He invites you to do the same. Before you go, take a few moments to sit with these reflections and recognize where He has been at work in your own life.
#1. When you think about God’s faithfulness, do you find it easier to trust Him looking back at what He has done, or looking forward in faith at what He has promised? What does that tell you about where you are in your faith journey right now?
#2. The biblical examples in this post- Abraham, Joseph, Jeremiah, Jochebed- all had to trust God’s faithfulness in the middle of painful uncertainty or loss. Is there an area of your life right now where you are being asked to do the same?
#3. Have you ever kept a prayer journal or gratitude journal to record God’s faithfulness in your life? If so, what has it shown you? If not, what is one small step you could take this week to begin?
#4. Which of the “How to Rely on God’s Faithfulness” suggestions feels most challenging for you personally and why?
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord,
When life feels uncertain, remind me You are not. You are faithful, unchanging, and always near. Help me lean on You in both the enjoyable moments and the hard ones. Grow my faith so I can trust You fully, even when I don’t understand.
Amen.
Resting in God’s faithfulness brings us comfort, joy, and peace- even when difficulty and suffering fill our days. His purpose holds, even when we cannot see it. As He promised:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Trusting in His faithfulness, even when we don’t understand His plan, gives us the freedom to worship Him for who He is and the confidence to thank Him for what He will do. He invites us to lean on Him, so we never have to face tomorrow without hope.
Blessings!
AnnMarie
All Scripture is taken from the New International Version unless specified otherwise.
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