The steadfast greatness of our God

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

I hate that I am an emotional creature, but I am who God made me to be. Some days, I am filled with faith, love, joy, and confidence. Other days, when the devil attacks me, I’m filled with fear, tension, anxiety, and trepidation. Thank God I serve a Creator who loves me and remains a constant source of strength, no matter what kind of day I am having. 

Last Tuesday, I woke early and began to purposely count my blessings. From the cozy bed I sleep in to the sweet kitties that keep me company, my life is filled with both simple and grand love-gifts from God. How often do we thank our heavenly Father for a warm bed on a cold night, a dependable roof over our heads when it’s raining, and lives that are pain and sickness-free? I’d venture to say, not often enough. 

Most of us take for granted the “simple” things in life – sunshine and flowers, a refrigerator full of food to eat, and transportation to get ourselves to work each day. Instead, we complain about traffic, grumble over rainy days, and bemoan the fact that we can’t eat out as often as we’d like to. What spoiled people we are. How quickly we forget how much God has done for us. 

In the days of Moses, the Israelites, too, were an ungrateful people. Despite their first-hand witness of God’s hand of rescue and protection from their Egyptian oppressors, they complained about what they had to eat during their exodus. “The whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this assembly to death.” (Exodus 16: 2-3) 

These men and women had seen the plagues of water turning into blood, frogs, lice, flies, animal pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of firstborn children. They had crossed the Red Sea on dry land and witnessed the waters close on the Egyptian soldiers who followed them. They had followed a cloud filled with the presence of God by day and a pillar of fire by night. They had seen Moses call upon God to bring fresh water out of dry rock and make bitter waters drinkable.

And yet, they still complained. How quick they were to forget their miraculous escape from over 400 years of Egyptian slavery and instead focus on their insignificant bellies. 

Before we judge the Israelites too quickly for their ingratitude, each of us should look deep inside ourselves and question whether we would have done the same thing. Most likely, we would have. We are all quick to focus on what we perceive is wrong with our lives rather than what is right – myself included. God is faithful, and we need to remember that He always has our best interests at heart. “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Whenever we forget our blessings, we focus on the world’s challenges rather than God’s victories. I have a quote on my refrigerator that says the following: 

Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, all the fears you have overcome. 

– Unknown

I’d like to take that quote and give it a personal, Biblical perspective since God is “my refuge and strength.” (Psalm 46:1) Let’s change it to this: 

Whenever I find myself doubting how far I can go, I remind myself how far God has brought me. I remember everything I have overcome with His help, all the battles He has granted me victory over, and all the fears He has put behind me. 

Emotional creatures or not, God loves us and promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) He knows our frailties and failures, and yet He loves us in spite of our foolish selves. 

Whether we acknowledge our great Provider or we don’t, He is always with us, taking care of us. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) If we’re honest with ourselves, we cannot deny this truism. We are blessed beyond measure and loved beyond belief. 

Whatever emotions may befall me this week, it’s assuring to know that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God is faithful. He blesses us daily. God gives us strength. He loves us despite our flaws, and He will always take care of us.

As we move into Thanksgiving week, may we keep these absolutes at the forefront of our minds and daily remember all we have to be grateful for – including the steadfast greatness of our God.