His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23
After wrapping the tree with clear twinkle lights, I tied pink and
blue bows on its branches and christened it our “Hope for a Baby”
Christmas tree. My husband and I had been waiting for a baby through
adoption for more than four years. Surely by Christmas!
Every morning I stopped at the tree and prayed, reminding myself of God’s faithfulness. On December 21 we received the news: no baby by Christmas. Devastated, I paused by the tree that had become a symbol of God’s provision. Was God still faithful? Was I doing something wrong?
At times, God’s apparent withholding results from His loving discipline. And other times God lovingly delays to renew our trust. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah describes God’s correction of Israel. The pain is palpable: “He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver” (3:13). Through it all, Jeremiah also expresses ultimate trust in God’s faithfulness: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 22–23).
I left the tree standing well beyond Christmas and continued my morning prayer. At last, on Easter weekend, we received our baby girl. God is always faithful, though not necessarily on our timeline nor always according to our desires.
My children are now in their thirties, but each year I set up a miniature version of the tree, reminding myself and others to hope in God’s faithfulness.
Every morning I stopped at the tree and prayed, reminding myself of God’s faithfulness. On December 21 we received the news: no baby by Christmas. Devastated, I paused by the tree that had become a symbol of God’s provision. Was God still faithful? Was I doing something wrong?
At times, God’s apparent withholding results from His loving discipline. And other times God lovingly delays to renew our trust. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah describes God’s correction of Israel. The pain is palpable: “He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver” (3:13). Through it all, Jeremiah also expresses ultimate trust in God’s faithfulness: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 22–23).
I left the tree standing well beyond Christmas and continued my morning prayer. At last, on Easter weekend, we received our baby girl. God is always faithful, though not necessarily on our timeline nor always according to our desires.
My children are now in their thirties, but each year I set up a miniature version of the tree, reminding myself and others to hope in God’s faithfulness.
Dear God, help me trust You today even when I can’t see what You are doing. You are faithful.
The best reason for hope is God’s faithfulness.
Wow, this has brought tears to my eyes, so beautiful and what a wonderful reminder of God's timing for our lives. She had such a faith in the Lord, and even though their baby girl didn't arrive when they wanted they were still faithful in prayer and she came at Easter. We always have a timing of our own and a lot of the time God has a different timeline for us. We always need to be faithful and take the worry and doubt away, this truly spoke to me. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing the good in the end because while I am in the muck I only feel doubtful- but I need to remember there is Light at the end, and along the way. We just need to trust.
ReplyDeleteStaying faithful during dark times is daunting. We have to lean on others for encouragement sometimes. What a beautiful reminder that we are not alone.
ReplyDeleteHis mercies are new every morning. All we need to do is remember them, take time to see them afresh. We get so busy that we implode. Today I will make the effort to see an enlarged world.
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