Of whom or what do you initially and quickly think when you hear the word faithful?  And please, be honest with yourself; no Sunday School answers, I beg you.

Oh, trust me, I KNOW Sunday School answers-I taught 4-year-olds for 15 years and even they knew Sunday School answers! Any question regarding the weekly story for which they did not know the answer, I could count on them to throw out Jesus or God, even if the answer was, say…heaven…or rain!  These little sponges had already soaked up that if they used Jesus and God enough in their vocabulary, they would perhaps be rewarded somehow. Creepy, huh?  Only because you may recognize it in your own circles.

Ah! I digress. Back to faithful, (sounds like the name of a bad novel). So, did you think of a friend? Old Blue? (um, that’s a dog) Your spouse? Or did you genuinely think of God?

Two weeks ago, an ancient (2002) Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir song came into my mind and took up residence until I finally had to hunt down the CD. It’s a small miracle I was able to locate it, but locate it I did and then put it in the player and cranked it up. The woman who sang, “He’s Been Faithful,” had the richest, most melodious voice I think I’ve ever heard.  But as amazing as it is, more than her talent is the testimony the words of the song give to the steadfast faithfulness of God.  I’m going to copy and paste the words here from Let’s Sing It Lyrics website and you can find the recording on the Internet. (I’d listen first!) 😉

He’s Been Faithful

In my moments of fear
Through every pain every tear
There’s a God who’s been faithful to me

When my strength was all gone
When my heart had no song
Still in love He’s proved faithful to me

Every word He’s promised is true
What I thought was impossible
I’ve seen my God do

Chorus:
He’s been faithful
Faithful to me
Looking back His love and mercy I see
Though in my heart I have questioned
And failed to believe
He’s been faithful, faithful to me.

When my heart looked away
The many times I could not pray
Still my God was faithful to me

The days I spent so selfishly
Reaching out for what pleased me
Even then God was faithful to me

Every time I come back to Him
He is waiting with open arms
And I see once again

He’s been faithful
Faithful to me
Looking back His love and mercy I see
Though in my heart I have questioned
Even failed to believe
Yet He’s been faithful, faithful to me.

Wow.  Every time I read those words I am blown away by His mercy and love.  It would be incredibly self-flattering for me to begin to believe that I have been that kind of faithful to my husband.  Don’t misconstrue; I have been faithful in the way most Americans think about marital faithfulness, but the kind of faithfulness that my husband could say, ‘Every single word she promised is true?’ I’m thinking I’m afraid to ask!  ‘Looking back, her love and mercy I see;’ yeah, along with some stubbornness and a few temper tirades!

The very good news is, we already have a Father like that!! And while He is daily shaping us into His image, He is also intimately acquainted with our weaknesses…yet remains faithful.  I’m not suggesting that we have a lackadaisical attitude toward bringing glory and honor to God, but I believe Scripture is clear concerning His mercy and forgiveness toward His repentant children.

You know, there have been times, even seasons when I have questioned God about His methods or questioned Him for allowing some things to occur.  Some of those times I have had difficulty praying, but as the song states, He has always been waiting with open arms when I’ve come running home to Him.  He doesn’t beat me up or shame me, although I’ve sometimes tried to do that for Him.  No, instead of shame, looking back over my life, His love and mercy is what I see strewn extravagantly across every juncture.

Truly, is there anyone or anything in your life who can top that?