What is Faithfulness?

What does it mean to be faithful? Faithfulness is holding on when tempted to let go, standing firm when buffeted by life’s chaos, and remaining dependable when exhaustion threatens. Faithfulness is obedience to God when life screams at you to give up. Faithfulness is continuing to run your race rather than quitting. Faithfulness is rejecting lies that contradict God’s truth.

God’s faithfulness is our supreme example, for He is ever and always faithful, He continually holds us, He never gives up on us, He is forever our firm foundation, He is always dependable, and He is the very source of truth.

Through God, we can walk in faithfulness, bless others by our faithfulness, and draw those in our path to His path because of the faithfulness they witness in us. When we are faithful to God, especially through trials, it demonstrates to those watching that our faith is real, that we really do believe what we profess to believe. Such faithfulness not only demonstrates that God’s promises are true and His presence real, but it also gives others hope. Because of what they see in us, they learn that they can look beyond their circumstances to find a faithful God who sees them, who cares about them, and who is powerful enough to intervene on their behalf.

Our faithfulness—to God, to our families, to our calling—ripples outward to affect all our relationships, whether with close family members or friends. And, since our faithfulness is proportional to the depth of our relationship with the Savior, it is imperative that we intentionally cultivate that relationship. He reminds us in James 4 that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Our drawing near to Him most certainly affects those around us because more of Him in us makes us kinder, more patient, more courageous, more compassionate, more loving, and yes, more faithful.

So let us draw near to the faithful One, and let His faithfulness shine through us. Our loved ones and those in the world desperately need us to be faithful.

“Continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast . . .” — from Colossians 1:23