The evil we encounter in this world can be overwhelming. It’s no secret that we’re living in troubled times. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably asked yourself why God doesn’t put a stop to the horrific things going on. In the midst of all this darkness, is God faithful to us?
That’s what I want to talk about in this post. What exactly does God’s faithfulness look like, how can we recognize it in our own lives, and how do we trust Him even when things seem to be spinning out of control?
The Short Cut
God’s Word and our own experiences prove that God is faithful to us.
The word “faithful” is defined as steadfast in affection or allegiance, loyal, and binding, among other things.
To see God’s faithfulness in your life, don’t overlook the little daily blessings He gives you, like waking up to a new day or going to sleep in a warm bed.
Tips for trusting God more include reading the Bible regularly, being honest with Him, keeping a journal, surrounding yourself with faithful people, and speaking truth over your circumstances.
Table of Contents
Is God Faithful to Us, and What Does That Actually Mean?
Recognizing God’s Faithfulness in Your Life
Bible Verses About the Faithfulness of God
Tips for Trusting God More
Is God Faithful to Us, and What Does That Actually Mean?
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If you’ve been in church for any amount of time, then you’ve probably heard it proclaimed that God is faithful. And, yes, to answer the question at hand, God is definitely faithful to His children. But what does His being “faithful” actually mean?
Let’s take a look at the definition of the word. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “faithful” as:
Steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal
Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty; conscientious
Given with strong assurance; binding
True to the facts, to a standard, or to an original
I believe all those definitions apply to God. So, then, if we say God is faithful, what we’re saying, in a nutshell, is that He’s loyal to us, He keeps His promises, His Word is binding, and He reflects the truth.
The part that truly amazes me the most is that first line of the definition: steadfast in affection. Think about that for a minute. God’s affection toward us is steadfast. In other words, it’s unchanging and immovable. No matter how many times we mess up, God continues to love us.
2 Timothy 2:13 says it this way: “...if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
God’s very nature is faithful. And as we know from His Word, He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, so He can’t change His nature. He has always been and will always be faithful.
Recognizing God’s Faithfulness in Your Life
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We’ve established the faithful nature of God, but one question remains: what does that actually look like in our lives as Christians today?
Because, if I’m honest, there are plenty of times when it doesn’t feel like God’s being faithful to me. In fact, sometimes it feels like He’s forgotten me completely. Mentally, I know that’s not true, but it can take a while for my heart to catch up to my head.
And sometimes we can’t see the tree for the forest. There’s so much going on in our lives that we often overlook the little, everyday ways God is faithful to us.
How can we fight this? We have to learn to notice all the areas where God’s been faithful, even if our life doesn’t look how we thought it would look. When we start to recognize the little things He does for us day in and day out, it becomes easier to trust Him when we come face to face with the big things.
Were you able to put food on your table today? That’s God’s faithfulness. Do you have warm clothes to dress your children in? A cozy bed to sleep in? Coffee to get you through the morning? God’s faithfulness.
These things may seem insignificant, but the Bible says every good gift comes from above (James 1:17). Whatever is “good” in my life (my husband and kids, my work, my church family, my friends, and on and on) was given to me by God. The same is true for you.
It can be easy to forget that truth on the days when nothing goes right, or when we face something that seems impossible to overcome. But here’s what I want you to ask yourself: am I living the life I once prayed for? Even partly?
Maybe that life is more difficult than you thought it’d be, but don’t let that take away from your appreciation of what God has done.
(Side note: If you’re enjoying this blog post, you may be interested in receiving my free email devotionals. Each week, I share a Bible passage (or 2 or 3) and what God's been teaching me through His Word, and the devotionals come straight to your inbox. Join here!)
Bible Verses About the Faithfulness of God
If you need a few reminders of God’s faithfulness, here are some Bible verses you can write down to look at when you’re feeling discouraged:
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. -2 Thessalonians 3:3
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” -Exodus 34:6
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -Hebrews 13:8
What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! -Romans 3:3-4(a)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:23
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9
Tips for Trusting God More
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So, we now understand the concept of God’s faithfulness a little better. But that doesn’t necessarily make trusting Him any easier. Here are some practical things you can do in your daily life to build that trust.
Open up God’s Word Regularly
The best way to get to know God? Read your Bible regularly. More than that, study it.
Examine the scriptures and their context (who a passage was written for, when the events took place, what was going on in that area at that time, what it reveals about God, and how that applies to us now).
The more you read and study God’s Word, the more familiar you become with His character, including His faithfulness. Sometimes just glancing at a verse or two isn’t enough to fill you up spiritually. You need to feed on His Word to develop a deeper relationship with Him.
And when you have that kind of relationship, you naturally start to trust Him more and more.
Be Honest with Him
Sometimes we don’t bring our questions or doubts to the Lord because we think it makes us seem like a “bad” Christian. But, in reality, being honest with God is a strong sign of someone who’s truly trying to follow Him.
Beyond that, He knows what’s going on inside your head anyway, so you might as well come on out with it! The purpose of prayer isn’t to let God in on some secret fear or struggle we might have. Instead, it’s to build and strengthen our relationship with Him.
Prayer often changes us before it changes our circumstances.
Keep a Journal
We humans tend to forget pretty easily. Think about the last time God answered a specific prayer of yours. How long did you rejoice in that before you complained about the next thing? Or did you even recognize the resolution as being an answered prayer?
I’m often guilty of praying over and over about something and then, when the situation gets “fixed,” I don’t even stop to acknowledge that God answered my prayer. Instead, I just think something like, “Oh, I sure am glad that worked out.”
But it didn’t just “work out.” God worked it out.
How can we prevent that from happening? By keeping a journal. That way, when we face another challenge, we can go back and look at a written record of God’s faithfulness as a reminder that we can trust Him. If He got us through then, He’ll get us through now.
This isn’t a new concept. God often told the Israelites to leave signs for themselves and future generations so they wouldn’t forget the things He’d done for them.
If they needed the reminders, so do we.
Surround Yourself with Faithful People
The Bible says bad company corrupts good character. When we constantly surround ourselves with negative people, we become more negative. It’s hard to trust God when the voices most prominent in your life are doubting and complaining all the time.
Surround yourself with people full of faith, people who genuinely turn to God when times are hard and who will encourage you to do the same.
Of course, this doesn’t mean your closest friends have to be perfect; that’s not possible. It simply means they’re making an effort to trust God in their own lives, which will rub off on you.
Speak Truth Over Your Circumstances
The power of life and death is in the tongue, and I don’t think we talk about that enough. Our words hold power. When we’re always bellyaching or whining, it affects our mood. And our mood affects our actions.
Eventually, our daily actions, both big and small, affect the way our future pans out.
When you find yourself wanting to complain or talk about all the things wrong in your life, consider speaking scripture out loud instead. Read God’s promises and declare them over your circumstances.
This doesn’t mean you can never talk to a trusted friend or family member about what you’re going through. In fact, the Bible encourages us to lift each other up and bear each other’s burdens.
But if you’re always just grumbling for the sake of grumbling, instead of seeking godly advice or asking for prayer, it will be harder for you to trust God.
Is God Faithful to Us? Always.
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So, is God really faithful to us? Absolutely. God’s faithfulness is the one thing we can always rely on. When you’re tempted to doubt it, open up His Word and remind yourself of all the ways He has come through for you in the past.
(If you’re looking for a way to deepen your relationship with God, trust Him more, and boldly walk in the plans He has for you, check out my pocket devotional, Read. Pray. Act.: How to Overcome Discouragement & Follow God's Plan for Your Life.
Full of encouragement, Biblical truths, and relatable emotion, this tiny book packs a big punch. Perfect for throwing in your purse to pull out and read when you’re on the go!)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I see God’s faithfulness in my life?
The best way to see God’s faithfulness in your life is to keep a record of all the times He has answered your prayers or gotten you through a tough situation. Then when you’re feeling discouraged, you can go back and read about those times and be reminded of His faithfulness.
Is God faithful even when we are not?
Yes, always! God’s character never changes, no matter what we do. Remember 3:3-4(a): “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!”
What are three ways God is faithful to us?
First, God is faithful to give us breath in our lungs each morning: a new day to make memories with our loved ones and share His love with others.
He’s also faithful to provide what we need for physical life on this Earth. “So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
Finally, God is faithful to comfort us and give us rest when we’re weary. He is our ultimate source of peace.
