Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008
by Steve Radford
Great is Thy Faithfulness was the hymn we were singing. I was in the congregation, third row middle. As we sang, I began to pan the faces of the choir and think. Is God really faithful?
There in the soprano section, Mary and Elaine are both recent widows. Behind them is Pamela, cancer survivor. In the bass section, Randy had a long period of unemployment. So did Jim. Another Jim's wife walked out on him a few years ago. William is HIV positive and was homeless at one point in his life. An Army veteran rounds out the tenors. Danny has a great bass voice and an infant grandchild with serious health issues. I scan past two altos', both single Moms after their husbands left them. On one side of them is the wife of a recovering addict and on the other side is a mother of a special needs child.
Back to the choir, left to right, row by row, I looked at each face and recognized something else about them. There's not a shallow, self-absorbed one in the bunch. They are all full of grace, passion and compassion. Battle tested survivors that leaned hard on God during the darkest of times.
Somehow they became people that call someone out of the blue to see how the job search is going or stop by a hospital room to chat. People that say things like I know it's tough and I prayed for you this week' or how can I help?' They exhibit peace when it would appear that chaos rules.
The stories had not ended with the broken relationships, pain and suffering. There was a prologue. God had redeemed or was redeeming all of those people and their circumstances. Some of the pain may have been due to bad choices, mistakes or sin. Others just faced difficulties that had no explanation. But God was faithful to them regardless.
So they stood there singing "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." As I raised my voice to join them, a sense of peace flowed through me. No one and no circumstance is beyond God's redemption. Great is His faithfulness.
(Substitute names were used for this story. Lyrics for the hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness were written by Thomas Chisholm, 1923)
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)hi steve,i just wrote a couple of similar stories. In God we trust, and when we do, we aren't as downtrodden as we would be without it. thanks for a good article,best regards,sueThanks Susan. My internet connection has been spotty lately and I'm a little behind on my reading and responding. I'll make it a point to check out those articles.
Steve
Hi Steve, very beautiful and a great testimony to God's faithfulness. His word says he is faithful even when we are not. And all these types of circumstances you mentioned happen because of the unfaithfulness of man.Thanks for sharing your renewed revelation with us. We all need it. God bless!!
Wonderful Steve, All glory to God. Yes his is faithful. Our choir congregation and even clergy have seen the scene over and over. Thank you for sharing.
and so, Steve, the world cannot understand such peace and love without God. Yes, He is faithful and even through our toughest times, through Him alone, can there be peace and hope -- Thanks for a very humbling read and... NICE PICTURE!!! (smile)Thanks Judi,
I'm not sure I understand it myself. But peace is a wonderful thing. Oh and about the picture... I'm finding that, the blurrier the picture, the better I look. Thanks for commenting.
Oh Steve, this article ushered in the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit into my morning as I read it. I almost always aware of Him being there but when I feel Him loving on me and honoring me with His fullness of being, I thank Him for His faithfulness. This is a beautiful sermon, Steve. I know He doesn't cause bad things to happen but they do. I know He could block bad things before they happen but it is as you've said. These people are the ones who become the greatest witnesses, missionaries and blessings to others. They reach out. Steve, I'm thankful for my trials because I can say, I am one of those people. If it were not for valley experiences, how would I ever appreciate mountaintop views? You have moved me to tears of joy, humility, and gratitude with this message. Thank you for blessing me this day. Blessings to you.
I would love to use this article with your permission, please?Avis, I'm glad God was able to use this article to bless you. And I would be happy for you to use it if you think it would encourage someone. Thanks. Steve
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