I woke up with pain and fatigue as if I’d never slept. The computer screamed at me with work to do and the headlines blared loud whining about worldly troubles. How quickly my discontent and dread of today shot shrapnel into my thoughts.
I needed a praise interruption.
Before I settled into God’s Word, He lovingly reminded me of a recent naptime moment with our two-year old grandson. Pulling his toddler Bible out, he asked me to read about Moses before he cuddled into his nap.
As I flipped to God’s miracle of manna, he pointed to the people.
“Look, Nana, they sad.”
“Yes, sweetie, they’re sad because they want something more.” I pointed to the “What is it?!” white bread blobs on the grass. “Yummy, like honey.” The toddler Bible simply shared, manna was from God.
My grandson smiled, pointing to the manna and then to the wandering Israelites, “Yummy bread from God. Look, Nana, they happy!”
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Hymn by Chisholm, T. O., 1923)
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in providing daily manna
We’re so quick to judge those discontented, complaining Israelites who doubted God’s goodness and care when they were suffering. Oh sinner saved by grace, how quickly I forget God’s faithfulness too. His merciful blessing of steady manna was totally sufficient for today’s need; it sustained them to keep going, in wilderness-walking, for forty long years (Ex. 16:35). Can you imagine? They couldn’t store it up for the next day; they were utterly dependent on His daily, planned-out measure of grace and providential provision. They relied completely on His unchanging faithfulness and steadfast love. Because of who He is, He perfectly provided.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust (Ps. 143:8a).
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in the gospel
“Nana, one more story. Read story about Jesus.”
He turned to Jesus teaching people. Pointing to white flowers scattered in the grass, he said, “Look, Nana, manna. Yummy bread from Jesus. Jesus loves them. I love Jesus.”
Tears sprang to my eyes as I held him close and thanked God for this little one’s response, recalling Jesus’ words.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:35 ESV).
“All that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (Jn. 6:37 ESV).
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Even in the Israelites’ sin of discontentment, even in His righteous wrath for their unbelief and lack of trust (Ps. 78:22), our gracious and merciful God rained manna on them abundantly (Ps. 78:21-25).
Why? Because HE is faithful, even when we are not.
![[He] “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (2 Cor. 1: 8-9 ESV).
Great is Thy faithfulness](https://i0.wp.com/laurihogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2-Cor-1-8-9.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1)
Great is Thy faithfulness to help me endure suffering with faith
In my suffering, some days, it can feel impossible to keep going. Faith itself seems impossible to grasp. How can I be content and thankful? How can I believe?
By His faithful provision of today’s manna, today’s grace, today’s fuel by His indwelling Spirit. Isn’t His Word such a gift? He even promises He can provide grace for us to give to others, cheerfully.
Prayer
Father, like this little child, please help us to SEE and trust all You are providing to us as daily manna, as You give us daily and sufficient grace for today. Starve our fear, our doubt, our discontent. Help us repent quickly and re-turn to Your steadfast love. Fuel our faith and contentment, by filling our hearts with Your daily bread of the gospel.
In the person and work of our beloved Savior Jesus Christ, You have shown us your steadfast love, Your faithfulness, and Your all-sufficient grace. So, as Your children, we know You will provide all we need as You sanctify us, in anything today’s suffering might bring. We praise You as our faithful Father. Help us to rejoice today, filled by Your Spirit, by Your grace. In the name of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, amen.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness” Playlist
Would you be blessed by a playlist that focuses on God’s steadfast love, faithfulness, and grace in Jesus Christ? Would you like to sing songs and hymns that fuel your faith with Scriptural truth? I carefully craft gospel-centered playlists each week that help me interrupt my suffering with praise to Him. For me, singing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs back to Him has been His gracious gift to feed my faith, especially on the hardest days of suffering. If you’d like to join me, just sign up here and my weekly playlist gifts will come to your email on Tuesday evenings.
