When you think of the characteristics of God, what comes to mind? That’s a loaded question.  

Depending on how you were raised, you may think of God as an angry judge with a hammer in His hand, ready to slap us on the wrist every time we do something wrong. Maybe you picture God with long, flowing white hair holding the earth in his hand like a tennis ball (that’s how I remember first thinking of God from the time I was a teeny, tiny child.)  

There are so many things that we know to be true about God. He is loving. (Lamentations 3:22-23) He is merciful, meaning that he holds back the punishment that we deserve and instead took it upon Himself through Jesus. (Deuteronomy 7:9, Ephesians 2:4-5) He is full of grace, meaning that he showers us with blessings and goodness that we don’t deserve. (Romans 11:6) He is forgiving. (Ephesians 1:7) He keeps His promises. (Joshua 21:45) He cares for us. (Psalm 23) He never leaves us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)  

Another word that’s often used to describe the nature of God is faithful. What exactly does faithful mean? The official Oxford definition of faithful is remaining loyal and steadfast, true to the facts or the original. All throughout the Bible, time after time, we see examples of God’s faithfulness. I’ve been going through and re-reading the Old Testament and the accounts of how God was loyal and kept His promises is astonishing. (I’m using a study app called Through The Word and it has helped me SO much to understand those often hard-to-understand parts of the Bible; it’s free and I can’t recommend it highly enough!) When God had every reason and every right to turn His back, throw His hands up and give up on His people, He never did. He showed them mercy, grace, forgiveness and love time after time, after time.  

That’s pretty incredible, but sometimes we forget that another of God’s characteristics is that He’s unchanging. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) So, that same God who has every reason & every right to turn His back and throw His hands up at us, instead shows us mercy, grace, forgiveness and love, time after time, after time.

It’s easy to know that God is faithful in the good times, but in those not-so-good times, it’s easy to forget & lose sight of God’s unchanging, unwavering faithfulness and wonder, “Will He do it again?”

When you take time to look back over our life, you'll be reminded of all of the ways that God has taken care of you, guided and provided for you. Think of a situation where you really needed God to show up and come through for you. Maybe it was a financial need, physical provision or healing. Maybe it was restoration in a relationship, or peace during a stressful circumstance.

God takes care of you because you’re His child and He loves you. He has taken care of you every step of the way up until now. He has brought you through every storm and provided everything you need—and He’ll do it again!