Lamentations 3:22-24

The past week or so, whenever I've been in the car, I've been listening to a new (to me) CD. It's called Selah - Be Still my Soul. The hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is on it and I've found myself listening to just that song over and over again. Something about this particular arrangement just really moved me. The song would finish and I would hit the back button and it would start again.

~ Over and over ~

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 will be.

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.

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!

This hymn was written by Thomas Chisholm. He was inspired by Lamentations 3:19-26 in the Bible. Lamentations is a pretty sad book, but right in the middle of all the sadness, in the midst of the terrible things happening to God's faithful people ~ we have this bright spot ~ this encouraging reminder of the faithfulness of God.

Thomas Chisholm knew this bright spot ~ In a heart-uplifting letter dated 1941, he wrote that although his income has not been enough due to his impaired health, he must record the unfailing faithfulness of God for the "wonderful displays of His providing care" and for which he is "filled with astonishing gratefulness."

It's sometimes just hard to remember that, in the middle of it all, no matter what is going on in our lives, He is in control, He is always the same, He is all we need and He is faithful!

Check out this line (It's one of my favorites!) "Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide". God is my cheerleader! He's cheering me on and guiding me in the right direction ~ what more could we ask for?!

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-26 ESV

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."
The LORD is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD