November.

Leaves of red, lime-green, orange and burnished gold drop in blowing clusters outside my window. It is a visual feast for my eyes, but the underlying awareness that it is November dampens the pleasure and brings trepidation.

Thanksgiving looms for my American friends and Christmas for us all. The word November brings the visual of the end of the year rushing towards me. My insides quiver at the thought of another year vaporizing and time relentlessly slipping from my grasp.

Change is inevitable and constant in our earthly lives, and we have little or no control over that. I mean, even in many parts of the world, they change the time on us. Which makes the word faithful carry weight.

Faithfulness.

There is an old hymn I love called, Great is Thy Faithfulness, written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan. The song is based on Lamentations 3:22-23.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are consumed not, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. NKJV

What does faithfulness mean?

The Oxford Dictionary explains it as: loyal, constant, trustworthy, with binding assurances. I love that last one.

When I look up the translation in my New Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for faithfulness is emuwnah (emunah): firmness, security, fidelity, steady and truly.

But what does faithfulness look like to you?

The hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness, says the seasons witness to the faithfulness of God.

As I drive by fields of brittle, beige cornstalks, it reminds me that the harvest is over and winter is coming. My harvest years have come to an end, too, and I am entering the season of winter. At first, this brought feelings of remorse and sadness, but then I remembered that another spring is coming because of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Both the hymn and the Bible tell us of God’s new mercies every morning. Not just when he’s having a good day or feeling especially generous and loving, but EVERY day.

The LORD does not change. His character and compassion are the same as it was in Abraham’s time, in the apostle’s time, in 1923 and now. The LORD is still able and faithful to provide all we need. He still forgives, saves and dwells with us, giving us the peace, guidance, strength and hope we need for each day.

And because of his faithfulness, we don’t have to be consumed by the hopelessness and darkness surrounding us.

I didn’t grow up with a steadfast, faithful father figure. But in his great mercy, the Lord blessed me with a husband who has exemplified for me much about steadfastness. Who is a picture of that for you in your life? Even if you can’t think of anyone close to you, who in the world, when you watch them, speaks steadfastness and faithfulness to you? What feelings rise up in you as you think about them?

The LORD is infinitely more faithful and truer than any human being. When we take the time to examine, think and ponder on his steadfast character, our hearts will soar with gratitude and joy.

We don’t have to fear change or time disappearing in a vapour, because he is constant and true, ALWAYS, and promises to be with us.

We sang the hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness, in church recently. As I sang and thought of all the ways Abba, Son and Holy Spirit have been faithful to me over the years, my heart swelled to a bursting point. I looked over at my son, whom I almost lost three times, playing his djembe, and my eyes filled with tears as my throat constricted.

The LORD’s faithfulness is evident everywhere. Just look up and witness the sun rising in the morning and the moon at night.

Sweet friends, I encourage you to pause today, in whatever season you are in, or whatever is blowing your way and consider the faithfulness God has shown to you in your life. He has been and always will be steadfast and true to his promises and character.

Be well!

Patricia