Day 1 - Growing Strong to Carry On

“Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT)

“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT)

“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” (2 Timothy 2:13, NLT)

Bald eagles are common where I live. Seeing these massive birds in flight always directs my thoughts to a Scripture in the book of Isaiah— “Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (40:3, NLT). An eagle’s ability to soar effortlessly leaves me in awe. I’d like to say that I always mirror these feathered wonders when the winds of adversity blow in my life, but that claim would be false.

A gust of financial concern strikes when the car dies. Then a blast of family tension swoops in. That challenge barely settles before the squall of an unexpected medical diagnosis hits close to home. Whoosh! Whomp! The onslaught leaves me feeling more like a little bird with a broken wing than a grand eagle. Perhaps you can relate.

Our human strength is no match for life’s unrelenting storms. Thankfully, we can ask God for strength to persevere, and we can trust Him to fulfill His promise to give us what we need. How can we be so sure? Because He is faithful.

One of God’s Hebrew names is El Emunah, which means “Faithful God.” The Hebrew word el refers to God, and emunah denotes firmness, steadfastness, fidelity, trust, and faith. Emunah carries the thought of the relationship between a child and an adult who is tasked to care for him or her, such as a nurse or foster parent. It also refers to pillars, which suggest lending strength to a building by providing stability and support.

Moses was the first person to refer to God as El Emunah. He did this in a song for the Israelites shortly before he died. “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God [El Emunah] who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT).

The Israelites witnessed God’s faithfulness time after time as He led them to the promised land. He parted the Red Sea so they could escape the Egyptian army, and He provided food and water to satisfy their needs throughout their wilderness wanderings. They grew weary on many occasions, but His presence and power strengthened and supported them. Even when they were unfaithful to Him, He remained faithful to them.

When life’s storms batter us, let’s recall God’s promise to give us new strength to rise and soar like majestic eagles. Let’s admit our frailty, call on Him for help, and trust Him. He gave the Israelites strength to persevere, and He will do the same for us because of who He is—El Emunah—“Faithful God.”