Get the Message?

Much is to be said about having faith.
We have faith that when the light is green we can cross the road safely.
We have faith that a promise will be kept.
We have faith that our family loves us.
We have faith that the job will provide for us what we need.
We have faith that friends will have our backs.
We have faith that the sun will rise every day.
We have faith that when a rubber ball is thrown, it will bounce.
We have faith that tree leaves will bud every spring.
We have faith that those same leaves will change colour and fall to the ground in the autumn.
We have faith that the earth is in fact, spinning around the sun in a determined pattern.
We have faith that the gravitational pull of the moon affects tides.
These things are dependable and we trust.
Some of these things we put our faith in because we can see it.
Some of these things we put our faith in because we just believe it to be true.
Even those who say they do not have faith, really do have faith.

The definition of faith is "complete trust or confidence in someone or something" (Google definition).
More accurately, the book of Hebrews in the Bible states that faith is "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

So what does that mean when we talk about faithfulness? People are expected to be faithful ~ to be loyal, steadfast, trustworthy, and dependable to what or with whom they have made an agreement or a bond. We put our faith in the promises of others, in the hope and trust we have in relationship with others. Faithfulness is a character trait that is supreme. We long for others to exhibit faithfulness toward us, and also, our own lives should display the very same.

I turned to my Bible the other day and the pages opened to Psalm 136, where it talks about the faithfulness of God.
What?
God is faithful to us?
Shouldn't it be the other way around? I mean, He's GOD! He doesn't owe us anything. He doesn't have to prove anything to us. He is this all-powerful, awe-inspiring Being. We should be faithful to Him.
Yet ~
"Give thanks to the Lord," it says. "His faithful love endures forever." (Ps.136, NLT)
The words jump off of the page. Almost every verse in this Psalm begins with, "Give thanks ...". Every second part of the verses states, "His faithful love endures forever." Over and over and over again, the words shout out. "His faithful love endures forever ... His faithful love endures forever."

Think He's trying to tell us something?

He has a love that lasts. It is a love that knows the pain of sacrifice. Of loving so hard, so much, so deeply that blood poured out. A love that endures. Even when we are unfaithful, His love is faithful.
This is a loyal love. A trustworthy love. A steadfast, dependable love. A faithful love.

What better thing is there to put our faith in, than this enduring, faithful love of God?
We can put our faith in things, in people, and in nature. But even those things will fail or disappoint at times.
But God?
He is faithful to us.
He reassures us with this promise. So much so that He repeats the message 26 times just in this one Psalm.
"His faithful love endures forever."

So here is the challenge that came to my mind when I read this Psalm ... write your own version of Psalm 136 ~ an extension that reflects your walk. For example ...
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Restorer. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to Him who heals broken hearts. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to God, who breathes life and joy into your spirit. His faithful love endures forever."

Faithful ~ He's got us covered and this is a steadfast, loyal, true gift.
Love ~ What every human ever born needs and longs for.
Endures ~ Even in pain and sacrifice, He offers this great love.
Forever ~ Enough said.