Great is Thy Faithfulness

God's faithfulness is new every morning.

Even if it appears that we are alone, we are not. God is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us; he promised that. One of my lifelong favourite hymns, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" says: "... Thou changest not thy compassion, they fail not. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me." 

And for a significant reason, I've revisited the hymn first thing this morning.

Sometimes in the midst of trials, lingering illness included, we feel so unloved, alone, hurt, unappreciated, and abandoned.  Or, for no reason we are depressed and can't even figure out why. We also feel letdown after some event's excitement only to find we have overspent excessively, perhaps blowing our budget the year through. Well, you are not alone.  But all those things will eventually pass as God shows his faithfulness.


When the letdown and depression have valid reasons, we need to give ourselves time, a time to do nothing.  Feel like crying? By all means, cry! Like the rivers, our tears can sometimes overflow for a reason. Best yet, seek God's guidance.  We need to keep reminding ourselves that the loving and caring Lord is working and fulfilling his special purpose for us. But sometimes we are so engrossed with wallowing in our problems, we forget to seek help when needed.

It's not easy but my secret is continuing prayers and feeding myself with God's words that remind me of his faithfulness because of his unfailing love.  (Romans 8: 35-39, Psalm 36:7)

I'm also reminded of George Matheson, best known for the hymn, "O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go." If I remember right, he also wrote another song titled "Ignored Blessings," in which he looked back to the past, that by looking back he could see that God in his faithfulness had led him all the way. Oh how we sometimes forget his blessings as we focus on our wants.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” was popularized by George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade choirs.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm
Music:  William M. Runyan

Arrangement: Heidi Henninger

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!





Related Article:

Brief history of the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" 

Video Credit:

Great is Thy Faithfulness - Chris Rice. Youtube, uploaded by borissimo1.  Accessed April 2, 2015.


Resource:
"Great is Thy Faithfulness" is included in some of my personal hymnbooks; in particular, I took the lyrics from one I regualrly use:  Great Hymns of the Faith (1968), compiled and edited by John W. Peterson. Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing. Franklin, TN.     

(c) July 2015. Tel. Wayfarer Psalms. All rights reserved.