The Sound of Faithfulness

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od is faithful!  This is one of the most fundamental tenets of the Christian life and one we sometimes have trouble remembering.  It is easy for us to speak of God’s faithfulness when the road of life is smooth and straight with no dips, bends, or bumps.  As long as our walk with God is “enjoyable,” we have no problem claiming and testifying to the faithfulness of God. Life, for us, is good!

But when something goes wrong, when we encounter unforeseen difficulties or challenges, when illness comes, when death visits, when we are on the brink of financial ruin, or when God seems a million miles away, then we find ourselves doubting God’s faithfulness.  The thanksgiving and the praise don’t come so easily and we find ourselves walking more in doubt rather than by faith.

Yet, it is in the difficult times of life that we learn most about God’s faithfulness to us.  The Children of Israel learned about God’s faithfulness during their forty years of wondering in the desert.  Noah leaned of God’s faithfulness during the year he spent in the ark after the flood.  Job learned of God’s faithfulness through unimaginable suffering.  Sampson learned about God’s faithfulness through imprisonment and blindness.  David experienced God’s faithfulness in the wilderness as Saul sought to take his life. 

There are so many examples we could cite and each one of them would demonstrate to us that God is indeed faithful to fulfill every promise He makes and to care for us regardless of the situations into which He places us.  That’s right, God places us into every situation and He remains faithful to us no matter the circumstances.

One Sunday morning, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness.  In fact, for the first time I actually heard the sound of his faithfulness!  Now before you stop reading let me tell you that my room was not filled with light, there was no burning bush in the corner, and God’s voice did not boom and shake the rafters in my apartment.  Instead, what woke me at 3 a.m. was the wonderful sound of rain hitting the metal awning over the cars in the parking area outside my apartment.

The sound was deafening and woke me from a sound sleep, something that even Congress can’t do on a good day!  At first I didn’t know what it was, and then it occurred to me what was happening just a few feet outside my door.  The forecasters had predicted rain for Saturday that would continue into Saturday evening.  This time they were right on target and the rains came in torrents.  After not seeing rain for so long, the cool splash of water falling from the sky was a welcomed sight, feel, and sound.

Outside it was completely dark.  The world was sleeping.  God, however, was awake, faithfully caring for His creation.  As I lay there the words from Paul’s letter to the Philippians came to my mind.  In Philippians 1:6 Paul says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

           

In this passage, we are reminded that it is God, not we, who began the good work and it is God who will see it to completion.  He knows where we are in life, he knows the difficulties we face, and he is aware of every need we have.  Just at the right moment, when we are parched, when it is dark outside, when no one takes notice of what is going on; God sends the rains of his blessing and love into our hearts and lives.  He is faithful to us in every situation every moment of our lives.  When was the last time you heard the sound of God’s faithfulness?  Listen!  Is that the sound of thunder in the distance?  Are you ready for a rainstorm today?