"As Thou Hast Been..."

I was listening today in our daily stand up meeting while another department leader was talking about one of her employees whose mom shot herself in a suicide. She planned it out very well, buying a tarp at Wal Mart to lay on, laying out all of her insurance policies and other important papers, but not leaving any kind of note explaining why. Evidently, there was no indication of trouble in her life and her family is just left wondering why something like this happened.
We were talking a little about the situation and how the family is having to cope. During a lull in the conversation, I said “And we think we have problems.”
I know of some of the health and family issues of those who were around the table, and I’m sure there is much more going on in the lives of these people regarding which I haven’t a clue. We all agreed, though, that our troubles seemed small compared to having to deal with something like this.
As the meeting closed, I recalled a song we sang yesterday in church. (Forgive the King’s English) “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.”
“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”
In this existence where we all reside, one thing that never changes is that change and uncertainty are inevitable. One day things can be humming along just fine; literally the next day we find ourselves dealing with a situation that is inundating us with emotion, uncertainty, grief, and anxiety. And there’s no end in sight; no resolution on the horizon. Life suddenly is a struggle of the greatest magnitude.
“As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.” Nothing, not a thing in this world, in this universe is unchanging. When the ultimate disaster hits, we want the ultimate rock. We want something to cling to that isn’t affected by the passing winds of time and civilization. No wonder people in distress often call upon God. Deep inside they know that there’s a constancy there that will give them hope and security in this uncertain world.
“As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.” Whether or not this grieving family is clinging to their Creator right now, I don’t know. But I do know that their Creator sees them and loves and cares for them. And I know that the Eternal Son gave the ultimate gift on their behalf and desires a relationship with them that passes understanding. I also know that these truths are eternal and unchanging, just as the God of heaven and earth is eternal and unchanging.
“As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.” This promise is for all…not just those who have suffered great loss or are in great distress. Each of us, whether things are going well for us or not, needs the grounding and security that an unchanging God provides. Of all of the attributes of God, should I somehow be able to rank them in importance to me, this one is right up there with the first and the best. And the older I get, the more I see the need for the anchor that God provides and the less I try to keep myself anchored on my own.
“As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”