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Faithful, Not Fickle

Isaiah 40:6-8

"A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

The challenge you and I face when we encounter suffering or difficult times is the fact that our frame of reference is temporal. And that particular frame of reference taints our view of God. It’s based on what we know and experience, which is the fickleness of people.

I’m sure you’ve lost count of the times you have been disappointed by other people. We’ve all experienced the person we thought we could count on who doesn’t show up time and time again. Or the close friend who betrays us. Or the person or service provider who failed to keep their word.

God knows and understands that frame of reference. He knows that people can’t be relied on because we, by nature, are centered on self. But His point here isn’t to call us out on that. Rather, it’s to demonstrate that He understands that frame of reference and wants you to understand He’s not that way.

By contrast, you can count on Him. He is faithful, not fickle. He never changes. Ever. He is a constant you can rely on. He always keeps His word. He will never fail you, because He can’t. Period.

Satan wants you to believe that God is disinterested and is even the cause of your suffering and current struggle. But Jesus has Satan’s number. In talking about the devil in John 8:44, Jesus says, “… there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Jesus goes on to say in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus knows life can be hard. It’s filled with pain and suffering. And Satan wants you to believe that it’s all God’s fault, when actually it is Satan’s fault. He’s the one who is the architect of the fall and the master of sin and death. He’s the one who ushered in the brokenness of our world.  

Satan also wants you to believe that you can’t count on God, when in fact you can. Because God is not fickle like we are, nor is He a liar like Satan. He always keeps His word.

Even better, He’s promised that He can take whatever you are going through and turn it to good. As Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Notice that it is ALL things. And the verb for “works for the good” is where we get our word for “synergy”. That’s an awesome picture of what God does with your suffering. He takes and weaves it together with the other parts of your life story to bring about good!

So in the midst of your suffering, you can count on Jesus to be there and to show up. And He’s not there to observe, but to actively work everything together for your good and to help you live life to the full.  

God is not fickle. He is faithful. That’s why you can trust Him today and every day. As He tells you in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Take time today to thank Him for His faithfulness to you and that He indeed is your helper.