An attribute is a quality or characteristic for which a person is known. We're going to explore several attributes of God over the next few weeks. I'm glad you're joining us!
The prophet Jeremiah didn’t have a great life. Some today would say his ministry was unsuccessful because of all he went through. There were no adoring fans, no willing audiences, no major bucks. Though Jeremiah shared the words God gave him, he endured imprisonment, ridicule, rejection, and persecution.
Jeremiah said:
- God led Him into darkness, shutting out all light
- God turned His hand against him
- God made his flesh and skin grow old
- God broke his bones
- God besieged him with anguish and distress
- God walled him in and prevented his escape
- God bound him in heavy chains
- God had shut out his prayers
- God made his way crooked
- God had left him helpless and devastated
- … and more
He said that God had stripped him of peace and he’d forgotten what prosperity was.
Makes you think you really want nothing to do with this faithful God, huh? But let’s keep reading.
Jeremiah said,
“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.”
Then in the next breath he said,
YET I still dare to hope when I remember this…
What a thought! Even though Jeremiah believed God was punishing him or making life hard on him, He declared with bold confidence that God’s faithfulness is so great it gives immeasurable hope. Hope that outweighed all the bad and uncomfortable things going on in his life.
What does this attribute of God mean to us right here and now? Knowing that God is faithful means we can look at the circumstances of our lives and trust that God will be there just like He said He would. We can rely on Him to display Himself as steadfast and true to His word.
Knowing that God is faithful gives us the same immeasurable hope that Jeremiah spoke of. We can trust Him. As we trust Him, we can relax — we don’t have to be in control. We can let go. When we can let go, we can drop anxiety and fear.
When we allow God to be God, we can step down and relieve ourselves of a burden we’re not meant to carry.
I love how Jeremiah said that God’s mercies begin afresh every morning. Our immeasurable hope doesn’t run out because God’s faithfulness never runs out. His faithfulness, His compassion, His lovingkindness begins again every single morning.
Oh Believer! You haven’t overdrawn the balance of God’s faithfulness. You can’t. That balance is refreshed every morning. You get to start from a new slate every morning.
That’s our God!
