The Faithfulness Of God: An Examination Of His Unwavering Attributes
In a world filled with hardship and tragedy, many wonder if God is truly faithful. This question has been pondered for millennia, with people struggling to reconcile the idea of a loving God with the existence of suffering.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: God is completely faithful and can be trusted because He never changes, always keeps His promises, and His character is entirely good and righteous. Even when we face trials, we can trust in God’s faithfulness.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we will explore what it means for God to be faithful, looking at biblical examples that demonstrate His trustworthy attributes. We’ll examine God’s unchanging nature, review key promises He has made and kept, analyze what His faithfulness looks like in hard times, and reflect on how an understanding of His faithfulness can give us strength and hope.
The Unchanging Nature of God
God Does Not Change Like Humans Do
One of the most remarkable attributes of God highlighted in the Bible is that He does not change. Unlike fallible humans who are prone to changing emotions, attitudes, opinions and decisions, our perfect Creator is consistent, unwavering and unchanging through the ages.
He remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The fact that God’s character does not change has tremendous theological and practical implications. Mortals change in every facet of our existence. We grow up physically, mentally and emotionally. We learn and update our perspectives. Our wants and desires fluctuate.
But God in His divine nature and attributes is perfectly whole, lacking nothing. He has no need to learn, correct His views or mature in any sense. His plans, actions and judgments are always consistent with His holy righteous character.
Bible Verses About God’s Unchanging Character
Multiple verses highlight the unchanging essence of God:
- “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed” (Malachi 3:6)
- “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)
- “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind” (Numbers 23:19)
These and other passages make it clear that unlike frail humans, God does not lie or change His mind. His plans, purposes, truths and promises are rock-solid and can be completely relied upon.
Theological Implications of an Unchanging God
The unchanging essence of God touches many areas of theology. Here are some key implications:
- Salvation – God’s grace and the way of salvation He has provided through Jesus Christ is unchanging and available to all generations
- Nature – God’s divine nature such as His love, justice, holiness, etc. remain constant and provide an unchanging moral standard
- Purposes – God’s ultimate plans and purposes do not waver and will inevitably come to pass
- Covenants – God faithfully upholds His covenants and keeps His promises to His people
Additionally, God’s unchanging character provides great comfort and assurance. While so much in the world fluctuates, God’s truth, faithfulness and goodness are constant guides that can be relied upon fully. He is the one “sure thing” in the universe that never varies.
This rock-solid consistency allows His followers to place complete confidence in Him.
God Keeps His Promises
Throughout history, God has demonstrated that He is a promise-keeping God. When He makes a covenant or promise, He follows through faithfully. Humans may fail to uphold vows, but God never falters. His character and attributes mean His word can be trusted fully.
Examples of God’s Faithfulness to His Promises
The Bible overflows with demonstrations of the Almighty’s trustworthiness concerning His promises. For example, after the great Flood, God pledged to Noah to never again destroy the entire earth with water (Genesis 9:11-17).
Centuries later, Peter affirmed that the world is being upheld by God’s promise rather than being flooded once more (2 Peter 3:3-7). Additionally, the Lord assured Abraham that he would father a great nation, and history has seen the fruition of that vow in the people of Israel (Genesis 12:1-3).
The Covenant Promises to Abraham
When God called Abram (later renamed Abraham) in Genesis 12, He made incredible pledges that revealed His faithfulness. First, Yahweh promised to give Abram many descendants – as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).
This vow initiated the covenant of circumcision as a sign of God’s pledge (Genesis 17:10-14). Though Abraham and Sarah struggled with infertility for many decades, in their old age God granted them a son named Isaac, beginning the fulfillment of His covenant through their offspring.
God also vowed to give Abraham’s family line the land of Canaan as an inheritance (Genesis 15:18-21). Hundreds of years later, we read in Joshua 21:43-45 that God was faithful to allot all the land to Israel’s tribes.
Finally, the Lord promised that all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham. The ultimate demonstration of this is Jesus Christ – the Messiah, Savior, and blessing to the world – being born two thousand years ago into Abraham’s line of descent (Matthew 1:1-17).
Jesus as the Ultimate Fulfillment of God’s Promises
While God displayed His promise-keeping nature in His covenants with Noah, Abraham, and others, Christ represents the supreme fulfillment of God’s pledges to humanity. Through the prophets, the Lord made many predictions concerning the coming Messiah.
Despite hundreds of years passing between the prophecies and their completion, Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled them all, as affirmed in the New Testament record:
| Messianic Prophecy | Fulfillment in Jesus |
|---|---|
| Born in Bethlehem | Matthew 2:1 |
| Preceded by a messenger | Matthew 3:1-3 |
| Rejected by His own people | John 12:37-38 |
Rather than making vows that go unmet due to forgotten commitments or changed plans, the declarations of God stand steady and unwavering. From the first prophecy of the Messiah’s coming in Genesis 3:15 to the final promise that Christ will return again in glory (Acts 1:11), we see the unmatched faithfulness of our Covenant Keeper throughout Scripture’s story.
God’s Faithfulness in Hard Times
Biblical Examples of Suffering and God’s Faithfulness
Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of godly people who endured great suffering, yet continued to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, yet he maintained his faith and eventually became a ruler in Egypt (Genesis 37-50).
Job suffered the loss of his family, wealth, and health, yet he refused to curse God (Job 1-2). The prophet Jeremiah endured rejection and persecution, yet he faithfully proclaimed God’s word (Jeremiah 20:7-18).
In the New Testament, the apostles rejoiced despite being flogged and imprisoned for preaching the gospel (Acts 5:40-42).
In all their trials, these heroes of the faith clung to God’s promises and experienced His comfort and strength. Their examples remind us that even in times of intense hardship, we can rely on God’s unwavering love and sovereignty. He is always faithful.
Trusting God’s Goodness When Life Is Difficult
When we face pain, loneliness, financial strain, illness, or loss of a loved one, it can be incredibly difficult to trust in God’s goodness. We may be tempted to feel abandoned or confused about why God is allowing suffering in our lives.
However, Scripture gives us many reasons to keep trusting in God’s faithfulness during hard times:
Rather than giving in to fear, anger, or despair, we can turn to God in prayer, read His Word, and call to mind the many examples of His faithfulness throughout history and in our own lives. Though trials are painful, they cannot separate us from God’s amazing love.
He promises to be our rock and refuge if we trust in Him.
How God Uses Trials for Our Growth and Refinement
Though we pray to avoid them, trials have great value in the Christian life. God promises to use all circumstances for our good (Romans 8:28), including trials. Hardships can strengthen our faith and refine our character as we rely on God rather than ourselves.
For example, trials may:
Though trials are immensely difficult, they produce character, hope, and spiritual maturity in those who respond with faith. We can be assured that God uses even our darkest days for our ultimate good. His grace and strength are enough to see us through.
Finding Strength in God’s Faithfulness
Faithfulness as an Anchor for Our Souls
In a world filled with change and uncertainty, God’s faithfulness provides a sure anchor for our souls. Though circumstances around us shift like sand, He remains steadfast and true to His promises. Cultivating a deep awareness of God’s unwavering faithfulness allows us to weather the storms of life with confidence and hope.
The Scriptures are filled with reminders of God’s faithful character. Deuteronomy 7:9 declares, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 affirms, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
In our seasons of hardship and doubt, reflecting on God’s proven track record of faithfulness can be a lifeline. Recalling specific examples of His steadfast presence and provision in our lives and in the lives of others encourages us to trust His faithfulness, even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
Cultivating a Relationship with God Based on His Faithfulness
Since God is always faithful, we can build our entire relationship with Him on that unchanging truth. A marriage relationship only thrives through constant trust in each other’s faithfulness. In the same way, our connection with God flowers when rooted in the firm foundation of His trustworthiness.
Practically speaking, this means being faithful in our communication with God. Regular prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship with other believers keeps our eyes fixed on Him. Like the old hymn says, “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 wilt be.”
It also means fully obeying God with confidence that He knows what is best for us. Though His commands sometimes seem difficult, we can follow them without fear, anchored by our conviction that God is entirely faithful towards those who love Him.
Remembering God’s Past Faithfulness For Hope
In scary or confusing circumstances, we can ask God to bring to mind specific examples of His steadfast love and provision in our past. The Israelites erected memorial stones like the one at the Jordan River to remind future generations of God’s faithfulness in parting the waters so they could cross safely (Joshua 4:6-7).
Sacraments like the Lord’s Supper have a similar purpose.
Rehearsing previous demonstrations of God’s faithfulness, whether in our personal story or in the stories of others recorded in Scripture, fuels courage to keep stepping forward in obedience. It reassures us that if God has been faithful before, He will be faithful again today.
Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He is eternally faithful.
Remembering the countless ways God has already proven His trustworthiness awakens gratitude in our hearts. And gratitude for God’s unchanging faithfulness overflows into worship. Like the old hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” proclaims, remembering the steadfastness of God moves us to gratefully praise Him for who He is.
Conclusion
Throughout the ages, God has demonstrated that He can be trusted fully, regardless of circumstances. While we may face trials and difficulties, He remains constant—the same yesterday, today and forever.
As we build our lives on the solid foundation of His faithfulness, we gain an eternal perspective that brings comfort, strength and hope.
Though the trials of this world cause questions and pain, we can confidently rest in the arms of our faithful Savior. He will never fail us nor forsake us. Of this precious truth, we can be absolutely certain.
