A Promise for All Time
I absolutely love reading and praying through the psalms. No matter what part of the Bible I am studying or focusing on, I will almost always fit in time to read a psalm. And one of my favorite parts of these poems, hymns, and prayers is the theme that through every stage of life God promises this: "His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1 ESV).
Just within the 150 psalms alone, the phrase "steadfast love" is seen roughly 129 times (and over 200 times in the Old Testament). Steadfast love is the translation of the Hebrew word "hesed" (Strong's H2617), which means loyalty, unfailing kindness, and covenant faithfulness.
This "hesed," or steadfast love, is what gives me hope in every circumstance, every season, and in every struggle. In our distress, in our sickness, in our failures, in our sin, in our suffering, in our trials, in our fears—in our everything—"His steadfast love endures forever"!
To endure is to tolerate, bear, or suffer through pain, hardships, and unpleasant circumstances without yielding. According to the dictionary, it also means to "remain," "continue to exist," "persist," or "last." It does not yield to our enemies, our flesh, our weakness or to any testing that comes! And... we cannot escape it (who'd want to?), and we cannot comprehend it.
It is our "But God..." promise in every season and situation. It is the loyal, unfailing kindness and covenant faithfulness that follows us and covers us ALL the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6).
This Is Amazing Grace!
His steadfast love is not conditional on our goodness or on our faithfulness; it is a promise because of His goodness and covenant faithfulness to us.
We wrestle and struggle with our own humanity that leaves us lacking more than not—yet in our weakness what remains true and sure? His steadfast love! This gives us strength, victory, and hope. It gives us a bridge that takes us from shaky ground to a sure foundation and from being storm tossed to being anchored to a truth that is unyielding to any other power. (Photo via Piqsels)
No matter where you are, no matter what you've done, no matter what trouble you are facing, this is your promise: the steadfast love and faithfulness of God is yours. Within that love are all of His benefits and His power to save. And within that covenant love and faithfulness is every answer you will ever need. Wait patiently; His steadfast love will come through for you.
"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast You save, O Lord.
"How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
"Oh, continue Your steadfast love to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise." (Psalm 36:5–12 ESV)
Make known His steadfast love to all! It will preserve you and all who come to receive Him.
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Kathi Pelton
Inscribe Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.inscribeministries.com
Jeffrey and Kathi Pelton live in Portland, Oregon. Jeffrey is a writer, teacher and book editor. Kathi is an author and prophetic voice to the Church. They walk with nations and individuals to see God's original intent fulfilled. Their ministry, Inscribe Ministries, was founded upon the verse from Habakkuk 2:2 that says, "Then the LORD answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.'"
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