When You Need a Song to Sing

My mom used to sit at the piano and play this old hymn a lot. Sometimes she would even sing along.

“Great is thy Faithfulness, O God my Father...”

As a child, I’m not sure I understood the significance of those words. Still, it became a sort of musical wallpaper for our home- and whether I realized it or not at the time, for my life.

When I ventured into the scary and uncertain world of adulthood.

“There is no shadow of turning with Thee.”

When I graduated in the middle of an economic recession and wondered if I would ever find a job.

“Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.”

When I wondered if God’s love was strong enough to hold onto me in the midst of the darkness of depression.

“As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”

When I waved goodbye to one friend after another as they rode away into the sunset with their new husband, and wondered if God had forgotten me.

“Great is Thy faithfulness!”

When I took one step at a time, unsure of what the next day would bring.

“Morning by morning new mercies I see;”

When I look back now and see all the things I could not see in the midst of the struggle.

“All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!”

Now I understand why she loved that song so much. It’s both prayer and praise. A song to sing to my soul, when I need to believe in spite of what I see in front of me, and when I find myself looking back in wonder and gratitude. It’s a song that gives me hope, because it's truth is not dependent on the strength of my belief, but on the unshakeable strength of His faithfulness.

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:23.