love letters, replied.

steadfast.

euihwanp:

this morning, i had QT on Psalm 138.  the general theme of the passage, and the intended “lesson” from the QT book, was about giving thanks and praise to God for answering our prayer and delivering us from our enemies.  as i was meditating upon this passage, however, a certain verse, or a certain phrase, rather, stood out to me.  verse 2 said, “I…will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness…”  i re-read the phrase “your love and your faithfulness” many times, just simply thanking God for His love and His faithfulness, as the psalmist King David did in this passage.  when i read the passage again in ESV, i noticed that the ESV included the word “steadfast.”

“I…give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,…” (Psalm 138:2).

His steadfast love and His faithfulness…  the one added word suddenly challenged me in a completely different way.  i looked up the definition of the word “steadfast,” and i quote Merriam-Webster:

1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable b : not subject to change <the steadfast doctrine of original sin — Ellen Glasgow>

2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal <her followers have remained steadfast>

God’s love toward me is certainly immovable and is not subject to change.  just last week at Open Chapel we sang about how “[His] love never fails.”

but is my faith steadfast in return for His steadfast love?  is my faith firmly fixed, immovable, and not subject to change?  yes, my faith in God as my Father and Jesus as my Savior is steadfast; however, so many times i lack faith and have doubts when it comes to my daily life.  i worry that God won’t provide.  i worry that i will fail God and others in my life somehow.  i worry that people don’t like me or are annoyed with me.  i worry that i present myself wrongly to others.  i worry that i won’t get the grades i want to get.  i worry that someone is somehow mad at me.  i worry that my future will be unstable and uncertain.  i worry that i won’t be able to go through a hardship and be victorious in the end.

Psalm 138 says that “When I call, [He] answer[s]” (vs. 3) and that “[His] right hand delivers me” (vs. 7).  so, what is there to worry about?  why am i so worried even though i know that God’s steadfast love never fails?  isn’t it selfish that i don’t give God my steadfast faith and trust in Him when He gives me His steadfast love and faithfulness ALWAYS?  in the passage, not only does David fully trust in God’s deliverance, but he also “give[s] [Him] thanks…with [his] whole heart” (Psalm 138:1).  and here i am not even appreciating God’s love and deliverance and taking them for granted, thinking that i rightfully deserve God’s love, when i fail to fully trust God with even the littlest things…

the one word “steadfast” convicted me so deeply to be steadfast in my faith.  when God’s love toward me is steadfast and immovable, how can i give Him anything but the best, anything but the fullest?  His steadfast love will deliver me whenever i call on His name, so there is no room in my heart for anything besides a steadfast faith.  i will trust in Him steadfastly.  i will serve Him steadfastly.  i will love Him steadfastly.

“Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock.” - Isaiah 26:3-4.