When everything is chaotic in our life, especially with illness, we can always count on God’s unfailing love. Fiona explains.
“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, ‘who has compassion on you.’” (Isaiah 54:10)
I read this verse in Isaiah recently and it seemed such an appropriate reminder for where I am just now. I know I’ve written about it before, but the message was new for today. God loves us with an unfailing love.
Lots is changing in my life and I’m not always happy about those changes. In fact, I don’t really like change much at all.
I’m in a “wait and see” phase at present. Not knowing the result of whether or not I’ll be given some disability support. Unsure of how I’ll meet my financial obligations. Trying to maintain a little paid employment, for as long as I’m able.
It can seem like what I’ve relied on, is being taken away, or removed. Like I don’t have a lot of control over what will happen and when that will be.
God’s love–His unfailing love–will not change, nor will it be removed. How much God loves me will not change if I’m not able to do some of the things I once did, or even what I could do last year.
God won’t stop loving me–ever. I love that quote from Philip Yancey, “Nothing can make God love you more, nothing can make God love you less.” He will just keep on loving me, no matter the number of times I fail. He patiently waits and gives me an opportunity to do it right the next time.
His peace cannot be removed either. Even in the middle of stressful times and uncertain outcomes and future, I can still have God’s peace, surrounding me and covering all that uncertainty.
I still don’t know what the outcome of so many things will be. Like so much about living with chronic illness, it is unknown and unpredictable–sometimes from hour to hour, or day to day.
But God is not going to change. I may be feeling “shaken” or that things I’ve relied on are being “removed” from my life, but God is still there and I can always rely on that.
Prayer: Father I pray that You, who never change, will be my comfort and a comfort to all who read this today, in whatever circumstances we face. Remind me of Your unfailing love. Amen.
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel when she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.
When have you been in that “wait and see” place? How did God encourage you to keep on holding on? What does it mean to you that He loves you with unfailing love?
God really is our only source of unfailing love, and artist, Chris Tomlin, puts this to words in this song, “Unfailing Love.”
Fiona – I can relate to what you are sharing here. For me, one of the hardest “wait and see” times is waiting on medical test results. My own anxieties can rear up and my mind can get to churning. God has to rein me in to stay focused on Him.
Then there are other life situations where only I can make the decisions and need to seek God in deeper ways to be as sure as I can be that He is leading me in the direction that is His. You and I also share the reality of living alone and having to make decisions that affect our life and livelihood – life changing decisions and therefore a need for clarity. God’s peace, even in the midst of physical pain, is one that we each have to come to know personally. He speaks to each of us in unique ways that we can come to understand as His voice for direction.
None of it is easy but with Him – it does work out.
Thanks for the reminders!
Love,
Lynn
Thanks Fiona – from someone else in a ‘wait and see’ time. Wouldn’t it be nice to skip the transition time sometimes, straight to the answer?! I hope and pray you have answers and clear direction soon.
Hi Fiona,
I am also in await and see pattern with serious decisions to make and my mind is befuddled as to what to or not do!! I hate this indecision that I never used to have a problem with. of course, I have to face the fact that in my past, I may very well have been doing “my own thing” and not God’s thing for me. Not proud of that as still have that problem in some situations, I will just do it myself and it will be done. Thats the problem; my solution vs God’s. Waiting is so hard!
And, Lynn, agree as to waiting for test results is awful. I have the same feelings as you do. I used to think I was in control; I never was but the consequences of that wrong thinking and attitude have sometimes been so devastating in my life. Now I know better but still fight with doing it “my way”.
And Anne, yes I would also like to skip the transition time and straight to the answer. but, alas, we don’t get that option. Wait upon the Lord and He will renew our strength is all that comes to my little brain!
Thank you, Fiona, and praying some decisions come thru for you soon. Change is so so hard and not fun a lot of the time. But as Phillip Yancey says, God always gives us another chance to do it right and he loves us no less or no moreand will never stop loving us! I love his writiings.
Blessings,
Patty