Vickie Arruda – God is always true to His promises. He can never draw back from His promises of blessing or of judgment. Since He cannot lie, He remains totally steadfast to what He has spoken:
• “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deut. 7:9 ESV).
• “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, ‘Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.’ The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord…” (Psa. 89:1-5).
• “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” (Lam. 3:22-24).
• “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (I Cor. 10:13).
• “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (I Thess. 5:23-24).
Faithfulness — I count on this attribute of God’s character. He is faithful. He cannot lie. I love that I can trust Him! I may not always like what His Word, the Bible, has to say or understand it, but I can trust that He will be faithful to His promises and all He has said.
Because of my counseling ministry, I am very aware that many individuals live their lives disappointed to the point of being bitter because they have been exposed to the unfaithfulness of another. That could come in the form of a spouse, child, church leader/member, boss, friends, etc. Yet God warned of the following in His Word:
• “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Psa. 118:8).
• “Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?” (Isa. 2:22).
My precious ones, He is faithful! There are only two possible choices when it comes to where we place our faith (trust). We will either have to choose God or man (ourselves or others). Our God is faithful! People, no matter how wonderful they are, will eventually let you down somewhere, somehow because we are only human and not divine like God.
Today, if you are harboring bitterness toward someone who has been unfaithful intentionally or unintentionally to you, please dethrone them. They are not God. Then trust God, the faithful one, to help you learn how to forgive and let go of the bitterness. Reconcile if possible, and where that is not possible let go and move on. God has a plan for your life and His kingdom!
He will never disappoint, and He calls all of us to accept that greatest gift of all — eternal life through His Son’s death on the cross and that free gift of grace!
— Vickie (vickie@purejoyinternational.org) is a Biblical Counselor, Founder and President of Pure Joy International (purejoyinternational.org).
