Trusting in God’s Faithfulness

by Adriene Bumpers
December 12, 2019

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

A few years ago I was in a group where we were asked “what’s one thing that describes God’s character to you?” I don’t remember much else of what was shared in that conversation but I do remember one of my friends saying “faithfulness.” This stuck out to me because he then described why: In his life, time after time God’s faithfulness was affirmed and he couldn’t ignore it.

I was reminded of this experience today when I read a Henri Nouwen devotional: “The situation in our world is frightening, and many people experience deep anxieties. More than ever we will be tested in our faith. I hope and pray that the Lord will deepen our faith during these weeks of Advent and will fill us with peace and joy, which belong to his kingdom. Hope is not optimism and I pray that we will be able to live hopefully in the midst of our apocalyptic time. We have a promise and God is faithful to his promise even when we are doubtful and fearful. As Paul says “Our hope is not deceptive because the Holy Spirit has already been poured into us.” (Romans 5:5)” Henri Nouwen from You are the Beloved

Easily I can be filled with anxieties, doubt, or fear when I read the news, deal with people at work, worry about a sick kid, even spend time with family. This message and reminder was not only comforting for me, it gave me a fresh perspective on where my focus can be this season.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, thank you for the ways you show us your faithfulness. I pray as Henri prays, may this reminder deepen my and others faith during this Advent season. May our hearts be filled with unexplainable peace and deep joy that only comes from you. May it protect us from the ills of the world so that your light is not easily dimmed within us and might even shine through us for others. Amen