Faithful

Faithful

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD.

JENNY AND HER YOUTH PASTOR HUSBAND, Carl, had just returned home from a weekend leadership conference. Flushed with excitement about their mission and plans to move forward with the youth they worked with at a local church, they eagerly anticipated incorporating their new ideas. But that night, they got an unexpected call from the senior pastor. The next morning, he broke the news to Carl: he was being let go. Moreover, the church wanted him to tell others he was leaving voluntarily.

The couple—with a mortgage and two young sons to consider—felt overwhelmed at the suddenness of the decision and their lack of recourse. Should they look for a new job in the ministry or leave it entirely? Should Carl return to school for a new career? Should they stay in Arizona or move away? Despite their uncertainty, they decided to trust God. He’d been faithful to them in the past, and they knew he would remain faithful as they moved forward.

The couple decided to move in with Jenny’s family in Minnesota while they sorted things out. Within the span of a week, they went from living in a comfortable home to sleeping on a blow-up mattress. Carl enrolled in a local university and eventually got a new job as a youth pastor.

But just a few short weeks after their move to Minnesota, Jenny’s father became sick, spiraling into a decline that continued until his death three years later. Though Jenny felt bitterness about the reason behind the move, she was grateful for the extra time she had with her dad. If Carl hadn’t lost his job, they would never have moved home and had those years with her dad. Faithfully following God’s call gave them extra time with him before his death.

When circumstances change or challenge us, it can be a temptation to feel bitterness or anger over a lost dream or situation outside of our control. Yet when we choose to trust God—despite our circumstances—he is always faithful in his promises. Though life may take unexpected turns, his faithfulness is an ever-present source of immovable comfort. Oftentimes, he is working in ways we’ll only realize later on.

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Help us to remain true to you in the twists and turns of life. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Spend time praying and thanking God for his faithfulness to you.