“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Jeremiah wrote these words in the middle of his Lamentations, showing that even in the midst of sorrow and distress we can remember God’s love and faithfulness and be encouraged. “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.” (Psalm 36:5-6)
I wish you could see the African skies of Namibia. We saw rainbows, beautiful clouds, and spectacular sunsets. But the night sky was just as awesome. As I gazed at the stars that cannot be seen in our hemisphere, I recalled God’s word to me one sleepless night in the midst of battling cancer. “I am the One who ordered the universe and set every star in place. And I have created your body; every cell is in My hand.” Such a truth does not mean we will live forever on this earth, but it reminds us of Who is in control. And His love is greater than the heavens… His faithfulness reaches even beyond the African skies. This is who God is… and He cannot change.
I got to share about God’s faithfulness with a small group of missionaries one evening on our trip. After I sat down, the leader of the mission, a native of Namibia, reaffirmed the importance of remembering the character of God. “So many times in the last nine years, I have wanted to quit and take my family back home. It is so hard sometimes to go on. But I always remember the verse the Lord gave us when He sent us here: ‘The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.’”
God wants us to trust Him in all things, even in those areas that some people might think insignificant. My greatest fears while in a foreign country (with good reason I might add) are getting lost and having an accident while driving. I think Jesus, the Master Teacher, keeps giving me opportunities to grow in trust and to overcome fear. The challenge in Namibia was driving on the wrong side of the road. Almost everything is backwards! The driver sits on the wrong side, he shifts gears with the wrong hand, and he must remember that traffic flows the opposite direction. Thankfully, the clutch, brake, and gas pedals were in the same order (or I think I would have died!). Since I am writing this, you know we made it back safely and I thank so many of you for praying. While my confidence grew after driving about a thousand kilometers, I admit my faith is not what it should be. But Paul reminds us to look beyond our own weaknesses to the One who is perfect. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (II Timothy 2:13)
How do we thank such a faithful One? We can never repay Him, and God does not expect us to. But the Father is pleased as we simply present ourselves to Him, having confidence in who He is and loving the One who first loved us.
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:3-8