Finding God’s Steadfast Love In Your Story

It’s been a heavy medical month over here. August is painful and hard in so many ways for our family – and over the past few years it has also become a month laden with doctor appointments, follow-ups, assessments and recurring worries.

When the days feel overwhelming and the “what-ifs” seem real, how do we reorient our minds and our hearts onto what is true and stable and secure?

You can look online, or pick up a book and find lots of ways of dealing with anxiety. But today, I’m going to offer one more tool to put in your tool box.

The idea came to me a couple weeks ago as I was finishing up reading the Psalms (which I read and journaled through this summer). Psalm 136 is really unique and interesting in its structure (maybe because I’m a writer these things seem more interesting to me??). But it’s the story of God’s love toward the nation of Israel – written in a call-response format. After every phrase they repeat the line “for his steadfast love endures forever”.

It can seem a little confusing to read it with the repeated line seemingly interrupting the flow of the story. So if it’s tripping you up I suggest reading through the psalm and skipping over that phrase – simply read the story portion first.

What do you notice about the story?

I noticed that they emphasized the hard parts of their story. The times and seasons that were most full of fear, anxiety, and desperation. When they were slaves, on the run from enemies, or under the rule of evil kings.

Now go back and read it through again with the repeated line back in the mix.

Out of all the unchanging characteristics of God… what did they choose to remember?

They could have said “for his steadfast holiness endures forever”. Or his steadfast omnipotence. His power, glory, sovereignty…

But they chose to emphasize his steadfast love.

When they look back on their hard story – it is God’s love that weaves its way through all the pieces. It is God’s love that binds it all together and gives them hope and comfort for the future.

Now it’s our turn.

Write your story. Don’t overthink it or complicate it. Simply use short phrases or sentences to touch on the biggest moments of your life. And make sure to include the hard times too.

As you write your story, only write on every other line on your page.

When you’re done – go back, and insert the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever” on the empty lines.

Close it out with a reminder that God has never once left you. In all the trials – God has always remained.

Why has he never left you?

Yes, because he is holy. Yes because he is powerful. Yes because he is sovereign.

But most of all because he is love. God loves you – that’s why he has always been with you. And that’s why he will always remain with you – no matter what hardships are ahead.

This week – as you battle anxiety about school, or health, or marriage stress, or any other thing that is weighing on your heart… may this exercise remind you that God’s love is binding together all the pieces of your story. May it be your prayer to the Lord, and bring comfort to your spirit.