Thou changest not; thy compassions, they fail not.
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
I was a little intimidated to record a new version of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” for this new She Reads Truth project, but I was also drawn to it for the same reason—because it felt like a challenge. Sometimes a song feels too big to reduce into a few chords.
As I started to work with this iconic hymn, I tried to zoom in on a particular memory to help me connect with the lyrics more deeply than surface sentimentality. I remembered how we sang that hymn in a close family friend’s wedding more than 20 years ago. I remembered my pink, handmade dress, the french braid in my hair and those uncomfortable dress flats. But as I traced the memory further, I remembered how that tumultuous marriage was, more or less, a long, slow trainwreck, and so I tried to push down that memory and think of another one instead. But the memory followed me around for a few days, and I realized maybe it was exactly this memory I needed to explore.
If I were sitting across the table from God having a conversation today, I would ask Him questions about His faithfulness and what it means in the loose ends of life—in the unresolved and ongoing bits. What is God’s role in the vow-keeping process between broken people trying to work things out? In our tender moments before bedtime, my sweet kids frequently bring up rather impossible-to-answer questions about life’s loose ends. They are so honest and direct, unfiltered and earnest in their asking. It makes me wonder how God might feel when we really stop to talk with Him.
When I make space to ask God my own honest questions, I have found that, just like with my kids, talking about it together serves to deepen the intimacy between us. As we see in the Psalms, there is often more significance in the questions than the answers. The questions invite us closer to each other. When I finally get quiet, I find God is not afraid of honesty. He welcomes me. His love pushes out my fear. It’s gonna be ok. I’m here. I’ve got you. He presses in with His clarifying invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy hearted” (Mt 11:28).
Like a flashlight in a dark room, God’s faithfulness is the illumination that comes in and brings a mysterious relief when I am brave enough to say my fears out loud. We are not in control of the universe. We have limitations. But the limitations are part of who we are and they remind us with discomfort and distress signals—like little alarms going off in our lives—that we need a Savior. They remind us that we need human community, too. I need sisters to sit with me in these hard questions, and we need space to be together in the silence that comes after the question mark.
When everything around and within us turns, “There is no shadow of turning with thee.” We try to make sense and find meaning in the patterns. Cycles and seasons pull us back and forth. We are tossed, habitually, by life’s waves and and occasionally realigned. People come and go in our lives. “Summer and winter and springtime and harvest.” We cannot yet see the whole picture. But God pursues us in our seeking, earnest to meet us in our sorrow and poised to celebrate with us in our joy.
God is the only constant. He is the unchanging centerpiece, holding all things together. He holds our life circumstances. He is holding the chaos of this world. He is holding our hearts—holding us. In all things, He works for our good and for His glory. But this truth is progressively revealed, even as it is sure. Truth comes to us, but not all at once. The answers sometimes move painfully and articulate slowly.
Singing the faith declarations in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” with honesty is delicate work. I think you can almost hear the evidence of fragility and vulnerability in the sound of the recording. But there is strength there, too. I could recount to you a thousand mercies of God in my life. And many of God’s richest mercies have come in the hardest times. “He is close to the brokenhearted,” says the Psalmist (Ps 34:18). I am convinced ABOVE ALL THINGS that God’s faithfulness abides when all else fails. “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” How can this be?
I look back and I see in my story, start to finish, that God has been so good to me. He comes to meet us, like Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, calling Mary outside and weeping when He sees her face. He is ready to meet us with the sorrowful embrace of a friend. He is ready to meet us in the boat, waking from sleep in the middle of a chaotic storm, saying, “Peace!” (Mk 4:39). And He is ready to meet us in the heat of the battle, saying, “I will fight for you, you need only to be still” (Ex 14:14).
God is great. God is faithful. And His love is set upon us.
We come as we are, with trembling trust.
Please help us, Father. Bring your steadfast love to bear in our lives. Bring your comforting Spirit to guide us, and your mercy to support us. All we have needed your hand has provided. Help us to walk forward in this truth, morning by morning, and through every changing scene. Amen.
____
Sandra McCracken is a singer, songwriter and producer from Nashville, TN. Over the course of nine critically acclaimed studio albums, Sandra has developed a body of work that encompasses hook-driven melodic pop, No Depression-style Americana, contemporary recastings of classic hymns, and even children’s music as part of the Nashville alt-folk super-group Rain For Roots. Her new album, Psalms, was released this spring.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not; thy compassions, they fail not.
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain
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!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Leave a Reply
169 thoughts on "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
”But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.“
Psalms 86:15 NIV
He is my Rock, He will never fail❤️
This is my favorite hymn. God has ALWAYS provided for me from the time I can remember.
The questions may be without sustaining answers but the process is what can make the season be one if great triumph or possibly one we may need to repeat
Amazing!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see! Grateful for God’s ever abundant mercy!!
Strength for Today….. Bright Hope for Tomorrow. ❤️ #2020
An ex boyfriend came back into my life, preaching to me all the wonderful things God has done for him & his life; it gave me so much hope & faith .. if God can change his life for the better, he can do it for me too. I put all my faith, trust, and love in the Lord. This song, especially is so beautiful!
Recently God has shown me many things starting from the 9th of Sept. up until yesterday and it’s been really intense. I got my 1st vision on the 9th (I usually get prophetic dream and sometime I’m given words) but this vision was really hard to take in and the next day it happened. I didn’t find out that it happened the next day until Wednesday when I found out that my friend took his own life. In the vision I had I asked over my cell phone ‘why they wanted to go to hell?’ and I heard a gun cock back and boom. When I got the vision I thought it was my dad I was talking to because a few months back he told me that if being a good person wasn’t enough to go to heaven, he’d rather go to hell…ouch. He also said screw you to Him and I’m scared for my dad because he has NO fear of God whatsoever. So it ended up being my friend who took his life and not my father but it’s still hard because suicide isn’t good. It’s kind of selfish too and the last thing God showed me was yesterday and it was about how disappointed He is… I’ve been seeing selfishness in many people as of recently and the sermon was about selfishness that we hang onto and the pressure kept building up. When the pastor started to pray, the Holy Spirit hit me really hard and it was hard to breath. I couldn’t move and I felt like I should go down on my knees and pray hard but I couldn’t move or breath that well. By the end I got the words ‘God’s displeased’ and I connected it with the selfishness in the family and the church… I know I’m selfish as well but I wasn’t the only one whom God is displeased with. When I described everything to my husband, he said I was feeling the heart of God. No one talked to me really after church except my husband and one gal who made time to ask what was up. That really made me extremely sad because when I see someone in distress or if something is off, I go ask them and see where they’re at. I felt like that also confirmed what was given to me yesterday. Many prayers I’d be thankful for. There was also one gal that did wish to talk but she had to leave right after church for something important but it made me sad still that basically no one wished to see where I was at and the church we go to is a young church that’s pretty small. My heart aches still but not as badly as yesterday. If you could believe it, it was harder on me yesterday than getting that vision on the 9th thinking my dad was going to take his life. It was that intense.
Beautiful!
I can clearly see God’s faithfulness, so many have broken their promises or commitments to me yet no matter how much this world can be filled with disappointment or broken vows – God has never let me down, He has kept every promise and I see ever act of love He has done for me when I look back over my life! I remind myself to cling to that! This hymn helps :)
So beautifully written❤️
His mercies never run out. Oh Lord, help us to rest in your promises today and everyday!
:)
His mercies will never come to an end! You are so good to me Lord!
God’s faithfulness is great. I have seen it in my life many times. I can really relate to and understand this song. Thank you God for your faithfulness to me who isn’t faithful.
Love this!!!
I love how draws my thoughts away from myself, and toward the Lord.
*how this draws
Loving these hymns!
I so needed this tonight.
I love these scriptures, and I love what Sandra has to bring in response. “Loose ends.” I love “perfection.” “Loose ends” are difficult for me. But, this is our world. It is a world of loose ends, and this is my life: a life of imperfection, struggle, doubt, fear. His faithfulness is the song that goes beyond the loose ends and carries us. What makes life a gift and a joy is not the perfect endings (although it is coming), it is His faithfulness through the brokenness and factions. To know a God that changest not. “As Thou hast been, Thy forever will be.”
What a beautiful reminder. Amazing how God uses music to calm the heart.
So beautiful.
This quieted my heart. Joy comes in the morning and with it his faithfulness!! What an awesome God we have – to take away our fears and worries and fill us with love and compassion. He never fails, and I need to remember that when I am trying to walk through life on my own and not relying on him.
Powerful! My husband and I have tried to conceive a child for almost 4 years. It hasn’t happened, and according to the doctors, there is nothing they can do. It can be so hard not to be angry and bitter – but Great is God’s Faithfulness. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. His love never fails but he is always there for his children. Despite the circumstances, God is faithful and I worship him for that!
Amy-Jo, I too have tried to conceive for the past 13 years with no luck. My husband and I decided 7 years ago to become foster parents and adopted 5 children from the foster system. Everyday I see these Angels that desperately needed me and needed to be loved with a stable home and I know that if I had been able to conceive a child of my own, I never would have decided to foster and wouldn’t have come to have these precious souls that God placed in my life. God has a plan for a reason and although I would still love one of my own, I thank God everyday for the blessings He’s put me in charge of. Have faith
this song got me through many rough patches as a single mom!
God’s faithfullness got me through…this was the sound track.
He is Faithful.
That’s all I could think when I opened up my email this evening to find a request for an interview for a new job. I have been praying and praying and praying for something like this to help me out of the situation I am in. He is faithful! And His love never fails. Thank you, God, for everything.
Congratulations! You are destined for great things.
I can’t tell you what this has meant to me this week. Please just know that I am thanking God for these devos at every turn!
Every once in a while, I look at what God has done in my life, where I was and am now. What a blessing to see the way God brought me to exactly where he wanted me to be! He is faithful to us and I need to remember that especially when I loose my trust in Him!!
This is one of the most beautiful and comforting, gracious and expansive devotionals I have read, thank you xx
Sometimes I pretend like God doesn’t want to hear my problems because He has bigger things to do. Other times I feel like my problems are so big even He can’t help. But then I get a sweet reminder that God is faithful in every way, always there (summer, winter, springtime, harvest). He always has time to answer my questions or to listen to heal my broken heart. He is good. He is great. He is faithful. Thank you for this beautiful adaptation of one of my favorite hymns.
can I just say, this devotional was absolutely a huge blessing to me.. I had tears in my eyes. thank you :)
Me too.
Today in the fortieth year of my dad’s passing, this song sung in childhood has played out through my life. As a twelve year old girl whose first love was her daddy the trails of life proved too much for him to bear and he took his life. He loved Jesus and taught me to by his example. Many seasons have come and gone yet God has proven Himself faithful. I wish my father could’ve overcome his depression to witness what God wanted to do yet in and through him yet am thankful my Heavenly Father is steadfast with new mercies for my life being revealed daily. Thanks for the blessing of this posting.
This is a beautiful example of remembering God’s faithfulness thru this wonderful hymn. It is one of my very favorite hymns. I absolutely love how you sang it, so soft and sweet. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
in a time of man centered ness it’s refreshing to hear a hymn focused not on circumstances, not on ourselves, but to the faithful God of glory who loves with a perfect and everlasting love. this is what strengthens us, worship/focus on the loving Lord of all
Amen. So refreshing!
Wow! Thank you for such powerful words this morning! I just shared part of this with a sweet 17 year old friend who is battling cancer and has been for over a year now. God is faithful ALWAYS!
Yes Laurie! Lifting up your friend this morning.
I remember making myself sing this song even when I did not feel like singing it due to circumstances. I sang with tears in my eyes, but I knew in my heart that He is good and He is faithful no matter how it seems. Looking back on that time of spiritual warfare and even back on this past year, the hardest I ever remember experiencing, I am able to say that His faithfulness is bigger than any circumstance we can face. My trust in Him remains steadfast because I know His faithfulness is not just words in a song, but is continually demonstrated in my life. Iam truly thankful!
My husband and I are nearing the end of an adoption journey. We could soon have a long prayed for baby, or we could soon be grieving. It’s really such an exciting and hopeful time. It’s really such a frightening and uncertain time. This reminder of God’s almighty faithfulness is the word I needed to close my eyes and sleep peacefully tonight. I think I will continue to reread/listen to this daily over the next few weeks.
Julie, we have adopted two children internationally and have also been foster parents. Gods faithfulness has always been so evident in our adoptions and every time I see my kids I’m just amazing at how God brought them to us. I have to continue to hold on his faithfulness daily, because let me tell you the hard stuff of adoption usually starts once you have your child home. Praying for your adoption today and hoping that He is holding both your heart and the heart of the little one who may be joining your family.
This is just what my heart was crying out for! I often get lost in the words of scripture and an left wondering what God is trying to tell me with this passage and am very thankful for people like you who give insight into the meaning behind these passages. Connecting them with hymns is even more insightful and fulfilling. There really aren’t any words worthy of explaining how this particular devotional has helped me today. May God continue to bless the writer of this blessed devotional app. It’s literally a life saver!
Last week I was privileged to join seven other women who were my roommates at Bible College 30 years ago. We discussed the great faithfulness, mercy and Grace of God that all eight of us have experienced because all eight of us are still married and walking with God.
WOW! That is awesome Julie! Congrats to all 8 of you, and thank God for his faithfulness❤️
What a reminder, that He is the ONLY constant and place of surety, in the midst of the storm and the chaos and changes. I have been walking through the longest and hardest season of suffering I’ve faced – ministry facing extreme opposition in the flesh and in the spiritual realm, people in and out, things just seeming to fall apart irreparably. And yet in the midst, I have seen His faithfulness. I have seen him abide. And pursue me, with his love set upon me. And I am beginning to see His faithfulness in the midst of the breaking down and suffering. May my heart be reminded deeply of His faithfulness. Thankful for these beautiful words, scripture, and song to speak truth. Amen!
Such sweet words to my soul today. My husband and I have been trying for months to have a baby and each month when it doesn’t happen my heart is shattered. But I know God is faithful. My life is an artwork of his faithfulness, it was just nice to have these words given to me on a tough day like today. He works all things together for GOOD.
This is so comforting and a great reminder. So often I focus on everything going wrong instead of God’s great mercy and all the things he’s blessed me with.
Wonderful reminder of our Father’s unfailing compassion and unchanging love. I still remember standing up with our family singing group to sing this song at my dad’s funeral with his voice absent for the first time. I was overcome by the truth that even in those dark, dark moments of life, God’s faithfulness is still great and there is a “peace that endureth.” Even today, 9 years later, this song ministers to my heart. Thank you.
Thanks to God for the truth he illuminates and shows me every day.
Nothing profound to say. I wept while in the midst of his presence and love.
Amen.
For the past couple weeks Exodus 14:14 has been popping up in my mind and in the notes I write to people for encouragement. Funny how during a week I’ve really needed to feel the presence of God this verse just so happens to come up in this as I’m reading this morning. I have had a hard time accepting that God is fighting for me and is on my side and this was a perfect reminded. Too cool!
I love the idea of life’s rough spots being alarms that lead us to Christ. This one is especially dear to me in that it began with Lam 2:22-24, I have Lamentations 3:21-25 tattooed on my arm in typeset to remind me that he is faithful, compassionate, does good for those who seek him…
I needed this so much! God really spoke to me, as I am entering a new season in my life. I have selfishly focused on all things that have been a constant for so long & totally lost sight of the one & only thing that remains constant- GOD! While everything feels like a total mess, he is working it out for my good & His glory!! Amen!
Two great take away from this
1. He is the only constant in my life. Things that I rely on as constant other than God will disappoint and disappear.
2. I can’t ask any questions that will stump God. Neither can my kids. I don’t have to be nervous about fielding questions from my curious 4 year old, because God can handle it.
I often have regret with some of the decisions I have made in my life especially in the last 5 years. The passage reminded me that God is faithful; He has forgiven me and loves me. I need to continue to wait on God and allow Him to fight for me in the mist of my circumstances. I have to make the decision daily to seek God. God never changes and His love pushes out my fears. With that being said, God's grace is sufficient to assist me in the next phase of my life.
I have so many moments in my past that I would like to remove like a brown spot on an apple. I constantly have to fight against shame and remind myself that shame is not from God. He has forgiven me and gives me the ability to forgive myself. It takes work. I struggle grasping that God would want a woman like me with my past and my filth in the roles He has now placed me. I have to remember that He has and is using all that I’ve been through and all my sin, past, present and future to mold me into the woman He wants me to be with the words and empathy and ability to teach on these exactly struggles in others. Sometimes I have to remember that regardless of my actions, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I am one tiny step closer to being the woman He has created me to be. He knows. And He still love me. He knows. And He has still chosen me. He knows. And He still calls me His precious daughter. A jewel. A treasure.
Hi Lindsey, I just finished reading this in my devotionals this morning. My past has always haunted me too. I struggle with how God can use me when I have let Him down. Perhaps these words will encourage you to keep moving forward for Him too.
“I still choose you.
What’s the past burden you’re still carrying? Adultery? Go talk to David the king. Lying? Deception? Abraham and Isaac knew a little about that. A sordid past? God chose Rahab, a prostitute. Anger and temper issues? James and John fit into God’s plan anyhow. How about a string of bad relationship choices? The woman at the well knew what that was like, and God sent Jesus with a message just for her.
Maybe today it’s your turn. Jesus has a message for you. It has nothing to do with your qualifications. It has to do with coming to the end of yourself, because that’s when God can use you in the very best way. By his grace, and by nothing you can offer, he chooses you.”
Beautiful. Thank you!
Hi Andrea. Fantastic question and one that made me think deeply. How does God pursue little old me?? Not, how do I pursue Him, but how does He pursue (follow hard after) me? I think what has come to me in answer is that when I open my eyes, I see His goodness and love – the crashing ocean waves reminding me of His faithfulness, and rainbows, the promise of hope and fresh starts. When I unblock my ears I hear Scripture telling me in Songs about the Bridegroom. And these things become more and more personal to me – overtures of love – the more I watch them and listen to them and enjoy them. See the verses just before Jeremiah 29:11 – God says that when we seek Him, He will make Himself found. Bless you, sister. X
Everything about this devo speaks to me. Thank you Sandra, for such beautiful and honest words.
Lord thank you for your goodness and that we can be refreshed by you everyday!
When I make space to ask God my own honest questions, I have found that, just like with my kids, talking about it together serves to deepen the intimacy between us. As we see in the Psalms, there is often more significance in the questions than the answers. The questions invite us closer to each other. When I finally get quiet, I find God is not afraid of honesty. He welcomes me. His love pushes out my fear. It’s gonna be ok. I’m here. I’ve got you. He presses in with His clarifying invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy hearted” (Mt 11:28). – this. I need to boring my own fears and my own questions to Him. He is not afraid of my hard questions. He welcomes them. Holds them close and the the answer is : I AM FAITHFUL.
This is such a great message only if everyone realized this.
God is constant! And for that I can rejoice. He has kept each of us through so many failed trials. However, he reminds us that he is always there to restore us! God bless you sisters.
I have had alot of changes over the past 5 months regarding my job and personal life. After doing this devotional and talking to some old colleagues of mine I realize just how faithful God has been faithful throughout all of it. He made me realize that it has been for the best some of these changes and I am grateful and thankful. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord. Great is thy steadfast love for me. For that I am thankful.
Vanessa I can completely relate. Thanks for sharing your story and how faithful God continues to be in our lives.
“But God pursues us in our seeking, earnest to meet us in our sorrow and poised to celebrate with us in our joy.” Ladies, I am having trouble seeing how God pursues me these days. I keep thinking that I’m missing something. How does God pursue you?
Sometimes, I don’t think I feel God close, but a relationship with God is not built on feelings, but trust. When I have a time of doubt, I simply pray, “God, I’m not feeling you near, but you have promised to be, so I know you are.” And then I just start talking out loud to him, trusting that he hears and he knows.
Thank you Nadine. Good reminders !
Hello Andrea, I was were you are last year, constantly feeling like I was missing something and trying to do everything in my power. What really helped me grow was finding a truth-speaking church with loving christians. I started to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s word and reading christian books like ‘living the cross centred life’ by C.J. Mahaney and I’ve seen so much growth in my personal and spiritual life. God is always there just waiting for us to come to Him with genuine hearts :)
Thank you for this! God’s peace and joy to you today!
Love this hymn! I cycle in the early morning hours as the sun is rising. It’s heavenly. I have moments where I feel God so close on those bike rides. When it’s quiet and the frogs and birds are chirping.
Anyone else find it stunning to think of God being faithful TO US? I tend to think we should be faithful to Him (and we should!), but what hit me as I sang these words early this morning was that He in His graciousness and love, proves Himself faithful to us. He is unchanging, and part of the way He allows us to get to know Him is by being faithful to us, to people, to individuals, to… me. To the One who is great and yet who is personal and knows each hair on our heads and each tear on our cheeks, praise.
Dear Sandra , Thank you for your song today . I loved what you wrote below ;
"When I finally get quiet, I find God is not afraid of honesty. He welcomes me. His love pushes out my fear. It’s gonna be ok. I’m here. I’ve got you. He presses in with His clarifying invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy hearted” (Mt 11:28)."
Thank you
This devotional was so timely as I’ve hit a really rough spot in my marriage & I haven’t even made it to the 6 month mark.
However, the words ring true that the lord is faithful…. I need only trust him.
You’re not alone, sister. Keep pressing into God and your spouse with hopeful anticipation for what He will do!
And if it’s too tough to hope (and I know because I’ve been there too!) remember that He also is faithful to create that in us. Rom 15:13 <3
Amen…..I’m going to keep this verse tucked in my ❤️
Thank you so much Taylor for the encouraging words.
Love you sister!! Praying for you to find good friends where you are who can walk with you ❤️
this was a fantastic devotion! thank you Sandra!
i miss reading the stories behind each hymns, what life event inspired the writer to write these hymns… hope to read some of them in the coming days…
Blessed. Love the words of this song it’s such a prayer. The devotion was spot on. Great is Thy Faithfulness oh my God
To all of you, your comments often touch my heart as much as the devotional and the hymn! My journal is filling rapidly as I write down your words as I know they will be a source of encouragement in the days ahead. Cycling through the seasons of life with you all makes the journey sweeter!
This is what I needed to read this morning. I have recently doubted God's provision, wondering whether He will truly meet the needs of my family. But how important it is, how necessary, to reflect on His faithfulness… new mercies every morning. I am reminded that all that I have required, He has faithfully provided. Perhaps not always in the way that I had expected or hoped for, but always for my good. I pray that all of us ladies rest in His precious, unchanging love today. No matter what you face, in good times and in bad, know He goes before you and is faithful.
thank you for your beautiful words, phoebe! i find myself in a long season of doubting God’s provision. believing His plans for me are GOOD but not seeing a lot of it tangibly. but how sweet to be able to fix our eyes on Him and all the ways He has been faithful to provide what I need. His track record is worth trusting over and over :) He is indeed our strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. resting with you in that.
My mother passed unexpectedly this morning. This was the song that was played at my grandma's funeral (her mother). I feel like it is a sign that they are now waiting in christ together!
Heather, I am so very sorry for your loss….praying for for peace of heart, mind and soul for you, and that the faithful and loving arms of the Almighty will be wrapped around you in comfort….Sending you a hug and love..Grace be with you…xxx
Oh Heather, praying for you and your family as you mourn the passing of your mom, yet celebrate the life she lived here and the new life she lives in the presence of her Jesus.
I am so, so very sorry for your loss! Prayerful Heather as you seek peace in this process, that you feel God abundantly and feel a great sense of HIs love over you as the days come and your loss is felt. ~ B
I love this song, reminding me that He is faithful. Some do not even know of his faithfulness, or that He even exists. I pray that more would find Jesus and know the love, peace, and faithfulness that He freely gives to us. So glad I found SRT! Loving these devotionals :)
I just have to share…….it is the end of the school year and it is so wild in my office. Lots of prayers and truly seeking God's guidance and trying to follow His lead……trying not to fight the yoke, but walk WITH Him…..what a difference it has made. I have my big, huge, ginormous state report DONE!!!!!!!! I am so stoked right now! I have it done ahead of time (that has NEVER happened!) I am enjoying the kids more than ever, even with a workload that is dramatically increased and more difficult than ever in my 14 years. Each day that I choose Him, that I remember His Faithfulness and rest in it, I am able to navigate the day…..not with ease necessarily, but with the knowledge and the confidence that if I stay with Him, I am headed in the right direction. Like I said, just had to share my warm fuzzy of the day :)
Yay! I can hear your elation through the web my friend. What a wonderful awakening. Not to mention the joy flowing from you, I am certain, is easily felt by the children that surround you! Awesome day H! ~ B
This song… it was the first thing that came to mind when I heard that a little one we cared for had passed into the arms of Jesus. It’s like a lifeline, isn’t it? A song that must be sung to oneself over and over…
There is "no shadow of turning" with our Father. In other words, we do not have to fear that He will ever change. He is regular, steady, reliable, constant for us. An unmoving shadow is fixed. The Lord has fixed His gaze on us and as unsure as life is….He never turns to the right or to the left. I am secure in knowing that my life lies in His unswerving faithfulness, always!
“The Lord is my portion , therefore I will wait for him ” Resting in his promise in a time of waiting. Great is thy faithfulness
Yes, one of my absolute favorite nuggets of scripture!!!
Hannah, wow! Thank you for sharing that insight on cycles. It makes complete sense that our God of the universe, who set the cycles in motion, who wrote the pages of our lives and knows all our hearts, would lead us through all seasons of our lives to lead us more closely to him and to fill us more deeply with every cycle, step, even breath we take. Wow. Praise God and his never ending faithfulness. Our very lives are his glory! Love this group and how he is using it. Thank you Jesus! Bless you all!
"But this truth is progressively revealed, even as it is sure. Truth comes to us, but not all at once. The answers sometimes move painfully and articulate slowly."
Seeing this, living this, right now.
Thank you for breaking this down so beautifully. I will never look at this hymn the same.
“Strength for today; Bright hope for tomorrow”
“Making space for the questions…” Isn’t it amazing how He gently & readily welcomes our questions of life?! He is just that GOOD my sisters! I pray that as I ask the “questions of life”, that my heart would be open and ready for His response. ❤️
A very intimate passage!
I needed to be reminded of this today. I am going through a storm and it’s easy to forget that God is Faithful amidst all the wind rain and thunder of a storm.
Lizanne ,
You will come thru the storm in victory . You will not be defeated . Stay rooted in His Word every day . I mean every day .
Be patience . He is faithful and will provide and will always show up . Shhhhhh let the storm move thru ……….. You will not be defeated .
Your storm will be your testimony . The enemy may win a few battles but he will never win the war . When Jesus went to the cross He defeated everything !
Michelle of LA
Great encouragement. Thank you, Michelle :)
I can’t tell you how many times I have let this song play over and over this morning, reading and re-reading your words and then just sitting and letting God’s promises wash over me. Thank you for this!
So needed to hear this today. I am in the space between the questions and the answers. Our business, that we've believed is really God's business that He's given to us to steward, is on the edge of failure. Outside of our little personal tragedy, devastating floods where we live have destroyed 300 homes and where a lovely family were swept away by flood waters. The father was found but his wife and 2 children are still missing. I don't understand the randomness of the tragedy. I know God is good in all things but it's still hard to just accept blindly. Searching for meaning and purpose in all this.
Praying for those "new mercies" to overwhelm you and your family. At the edge is where we find His grace for the next morning day by day. Praying that you trust His hand and not your heart. Emotions are temporary, but God is our eternal rock. He may shake you, but the core is secure :)
Digging through today's Scripture was like a sweet treasure hunt. I loved looking for themes and key words as I flipped through and then rewrote verses in my Bible. The Holy Spirit lead me to the connection of faithfulness and steadfastness. I'm tempted to cling to those words as gifts from God to me (which they so graciously are!) but I need to remember ways in which I can reflect a faithful heart and steadfast trust in Him today. He is worthy! LOVED the Hymn for today! Yes!
The questions are more significant than the answers. What a good topic to muse on for today. And such beautiful music!
“All we have needed your hand has provided.” Doesn’t this statement just shout out Jesus. We need Him and God has Provided Him!!! Everything else is just the details. Thank you Lord.
This devotion touched my broken heart. I have a dear friend who is going through an extremely difficult time. They have been falsely accused of horrible things. My heart breaks for my friend and the precious family involved. I am reminded that God is faithful and His mercy will prevail. The truth may be slow and painful to come out but God is in control and has each and everyone of His children wrapped in His tender care. Thank you for this beautiful devotion. God spoke to me through your beautiful text.
Katie, I love that you are so protective and caring of your friends. I know that you will be a blessing as you stand by them and show them by example how Jesus is steadfast. Hugs!!
Sandra was so honest about the fear we have even when we know God is good and big: “What is God’s role in the vow-keeping process between broken people trying to work things out?”
At the same time we know He is loving which pushes out our fear so we can hear His words of assurance: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy hearted” (Mt 11:28).
Oh what strength and boldness and faith it takes to wait in the silence after the question mark, knowing that God will answer and it will be good.
Sandra’s trust that God’s faithfulness is strong when all else fails reminds me of the Psalmist time and time again ending His songs with praise no matter the circumstance.
has anyone else had trouble copying the text of the devo to create a note? I think the in app player is affecting my ability to select text, because I’m able to select it on the scripture page but not the devo page..
Hmmmmm that’s odd Sarah. I’ve just been double tapping and it highlights the words.
My husband and I sang this to our boys last night before bedtime and I went to bed thinking of how rich in truth it is and behold, we study it this morning! How gracious is the Lord! The faithfulness of the Lord in the ups and downs and the different seasons of life is what I needed to be reminded of this morning.
Making space for the questions… I had to do that this morning as I sat down to read this. I had four things in particular that are heavy on me for different reasons seemingly jumping into my thoughts before I finished each sentence of Sandra´s piece. I prayed and told them to get out, that this is not the space for them.
They´ve been placed before the Lord and even in the course of reading I see "new mercies" for each of them. In what are comparatively easy and joyful times, I see myself squirming under the tensions, but smiling as I realize those tensions are the things that reveal his new mercies.
When I´m trying to check it off, fix it myself, and make sure I´m set up to receive the praise, these three little sentences make me breathe a sigh of relief:
"God is great. God is faithful. And His love is set upon us."
Those three sentences are so powerful for us when all we want to do is control.
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Cor 4:7-9
The trials and struggles in our life bring God's faithfulness into view. It is always there, but our human eyes are clouded with doubt, our vision is limited by what our minds can imagine. With each rescue, each providential intervention, each tender mercy, His faithfulness comes into focus. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. The more we reflect on God's past faithfulness–those treasures held in jars of clay–the clearer our vision of the future becomes. "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow – blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!"
You are so right Kelly……the more I look back, the more I see how God has truly been with me, guiding me and loving me all along…..I pray that my day to day focus becomes clearer….that I might alway see Him with me, leading and guiding me.
"Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" – – – a favorite line of mine as well, so much beautiful truth in that! ~ B
Thank you for the reminder to hold on to God’s faithfulness in our lives. When I remember the times God has been faithful before, it makes me more confident that He will be faithful today, tomorrow, and in the future.
"The trials and struggles in our life bring God's faithfulness into view"
Yes! Thanking God that I have known His faithfulness. Those times that felt so incredibly desperate are now covered with fingerprints of grace and faithfulness. What a comfort it is to recognize that.
He is my bright hope for tomorrow. Thanks for sharing, Kelly!
I grew up in a very small, southern town in a Baptist church (red carpet and all :))…. I can hear the organist playing this Hymn now, the tiny congregation singing. "All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy Faithfulness Lord unto thee." Beautiful!
me too
What a glorious way to start this day that He has made. As Kara Tippetts said, “I have today, and, this today I get to live well.” We can do that because of His faithfulness.
I LOVE that quote!
What an awesome quote!
It's funny how there are certain things that take you back to a season of your childhood; a particular scent as it waifs through a room, the taste of a perfect apricot cold dough cookie, and a song. Something about this song takes me back and fills me with an emotion that overwhelms me. A much needed release to remind me that even though I am grown up, I am still a wee one to my God. That although I am orphaned on earth, I am still a child to my heavenly Father and that although this part of my cycle is a slow walk through a new dark, God is still there. Ever faithful, never failing, constant in illuminating my darkness…."earnest to meet us in our sorrow and poised to celebrate with us in our joy". His mercies new with each step and His love overflowing. ~ B
I am so with you B……I had a moment just like that last week…..it was beyond words. I truly felt (in a tangible way….more so than ever before) that I was His child. Not just another face in the crowd, but His precious child that He loves and care for beyond measure….
Those moments we truly feel that bring such emotion with it. I think when we truly connect with how much we matter to Him, our relationship with Him embraces a whole new level. To know, as a mother, how much I love my own children, and then to realize that it pales in great comparison to His love of me or even my children, well, it's beyond words! ~ B
Thank you for reminding us how vital it is that we remember we are His children!!
I know there is such a natural desire for us to feel like we belong somewhere….and this is such a source of trauma for us on earth….but knowing that HE is where we belong, our home, our Father, that is freedom!! ~ B
as others have said, this is my absolute favorite hymn. i've never heard a version i didn't like. this recording had my eyes brimming with tears. thank you so much.
His faithfulness is the only constant – and the only thing I need. Powerful. Thank you!
I like how the King James Version of the verse says "It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." They are new every morning, great is thy Faithfulness!! We should be consumed, we should have to pay for our mistakes, failures, our SINS. But because of Jesus…who paid the ultimate price we get verse three:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
A PEACE that endures, passes all understanding
His PRESENCE with us every day cheering us on and leading us the right way
STRENGTH for today…just what we need for TODAY and a bright HOPE for the future…no matter what it looks like
And these BLESSINGS?? They are all MINE and MORE!!! 10,000 more and besides!
The song and message were beautiful this morning. So thankful for His presence and the Word to start a day. He is faithful. ♥
Amen…Candacejo….Amen…
Morning….! X
Amen…beautifully written!
Great is thy Faithfulness…Amen
Great IS thy Faithfulness….Amen…
Thank you Lord God…Thank you…
Thank you, Lord God, for the new mercies, each and every morning…Thank you…Amen..
Beautifully sung and felt in my heart..Thank you Sandra….
Thankful for His faithfulness…Thankful for this site…Thankful for you…Happy Tuesday….xxxx
This is my absolute favorite hymn, and I made sure to sneak it into the piano prologue at the beginning of my wedding, alongside many others. But God, in his greatness and love, and great orchestration, made sure it was the one playing as I stood in the back of the church behind closed doors, waiting for my entrance. This point that I had arrived at was all because of his faithfulness. Thank you for reminding me of that beautiful day. And though our marriage has been far from perfect, his mercies are new every morning, and he has provided all we need through every season.
Thanks for sharing your heart and song with us today. So encouraging!
Sandra, thanks so much for this (and your beautiful version!) I needed this today.
Today has been overwhelming and anxiety-ridden. Dealing with home stress (moving back home after college is miserable!); work stress, money stress (trying to figure out how to pay for school books I needed yesterday now, without it taking my entire paycheck); my anxiety disorder had finally felt somewhat in control until the past few days. the whole lot is cumulating and caving in on me. Additionally trying to figure out how I’m going to handle 2 very demanding summer classes that start tomorrow on top of a very draining and demanding full-time job. Struggle, meet bus. Minor problems in the grand scheme of things, but with anxiety, every minute thing turns catastrophic, especially when they all hit at once!!
Great is Thy Faithfulness is one of my favorite hymns. I’ve always seen it as a testament to the good things God has ALREADY done-not the things I can’t see yet. I’ve never looked at it as having faith and hope during the tough times. What you said is what I needed to hear tonight: even in the chaos, he’s here. Especially in the chaos. His faithfulness abides, even when I can’t see or understand. He isn’t going to let me fall, even though I feel like I’m already hanging over the cliff. I can’t see his mercy in this yet, but I know it is there. I’m hoping to fully lean into Him and trust that new mercies are truly waiting in the morning.
Thanks so much, Sandra. ❤️
Said a prayer for strength and peace…wrap yourself in verse three this morning Jordan!! ♥
Prayers lifted this morning for you Jordan….<3
Praying for you today. May God's peace – His enduring peace, envelope you and give you courage and strength to take the next step, and the next, and the next– may your eyes remain open to His faithfulness and His tender mercies!
Jordan, I totally understand the stress of school & summer classes. I have a final exam for a class that I have to take on a day when I’ll be at a camp with some middle school girls I lead, and getting all of the work for the class done before I go seems really daunting. But something I’ve realized in the past is that God is not limited by time, and we don’t have to let our time (or lack thereof) limit God. I’ve found that during some of the busiest weeks/seasons in my life, I find myself with more than enough time to do everything when I make it a priority to seek God and to rest in Him. God will be faithful to you in everything, and I’m praying that you will get to experience His rest among the busyness.
I feel ya. I'll be taking these summer classes and preparing for/taking my teaching licensing tests while teaching daycare (2 year olds!). Kids are exhausting, on top of classes to boot! These are my 2 final classes however before student teaching, so at least I'm almost there. :)
"we don't have to let our time (or lack thereof) limit God." I love that. So many times I worry about time, getting things done by this day and this time (I'm a perfectionist type-A person, and so much of my life is constrained by time). Yet He isn't- everything works out as it's supposed to, on His timetable. I think I'm gonna try that resting this week and see if that helps- typically, it always does. Funny how that works, right? :)
Thanks for your words, Laura! :)
I’m in a similar boat of summer classes, growing-up craziness! And He is so faithful… not just to carry us through, but to let us SEE how he is providing.
such a bittersweet season, right Hannah?! In one sense I'm ready to be an adult and move on from college, in another I am SOOO not ready to close this chapter I've loved so much. This transition has been so hard!
Thanks for the love and prayers, ladies. Love this SRT community so much. <3
When we make that space in our hearts to ask God questions, that when he shows us just how faithful he is and how he will always be by our sides. I loved the comparisons used in this devotion today. I haven't heard this hymn in years. Love it
My favorite part of this hymn is about the cycles we witness in the sky, land, and seasons. I love how, like God, they are so dependable, yet always new and fresh.
God does this in our lives too. The Hebrew word for paths (as in, "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake") actually means cycle. The path he's leading us on isn't a linear path. It's a cyclical path, with times of darkness, light, sowing and reaping. There's something so beautiful to me about dancing this dance with Him.
Thanks for the info about the word path! I didn’t know that, and it makes SO much sense. I see that scripture so differently now. There is indeed something beautiful about it! Thanks Hannah. :)
Yes! Once you're aware of it, you start seeing that idea of cycles everywhere. It's encouraging to know that even if we don't seem to be going "forward", we aren't stuck either.
I was thinking of the seasons the other day and how the calendar tells us "Today it is now spring!" when the reality is that spring has gradually been arriving (or not!) before that. The seasons don't instantly change overnight. There is a perpetual state of gradual preparation or gearing down. I think our lives are like that too. When God works in our lives, sometimes the change is imperceptible but it doesn't mean it's not there. So I also find encouragement in a cycle that moves me closer to God even if it's "not forward"! Thank you for sharing that insight Hannah!
Kim, I love how you applied the idea of seasons on an even deeper level! Thank you for your beautiful insight, it really bears witness with my spirit.
Love that about the cycles ♥
Love the insight on paths…….and the picture of dancing with Him….
Maybe that’s why I like the shape of circles so much…especially in artwork!
wow… I hadn’t thought of it this way. It is indeed Lovely.
Awesome!! So encouraging to hear because sometimes I feel like life doesn’t make any sense. It seems so much of the same, very trivial. But this cycles piece really helps put things in a different light. Through it all God is steadfast and is going to see us through it. The highs and the lows, the good and the bad.