In our Christian journey, hymns have captured the hearts of believers and connect our spirit to the throne of God. One of them is “Great is thy Faithfulness.” This hymn was written by Thomas O. Chisholm in 1923. Thomas was born in Franklin, Kentucky in 1866. He was not privileged to attain higher degrees. He started his career as a schoolteacher as early as age sixteen after which he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and later became the editor of the “Pentecostal Herald” and ordained as a minister at Methodist church.
Thomas was faced with illness and financial difficulties in his lifetime. Despite these challenges, his faith remained unshaken. He drew strength from the scriptures, the book of Lamentations, and Exodus 16:19-21 has the Lord provide daily manna for the Israelites. He realized that day by day, morning by morning, the faithfulness of God never ceased for once; rather they were new every morning and received new mercies. He knew that none of his efforts were enough to cater for his needs. The peace of mind, strength for each day and bright hope for the future were all provided by the one who changed not (God).
No doubt that during the time of Thomas Obediah Chisholm, there were lots of people who were well-to-do, who could be thinking that God was not faithful to them or think that they acquired their success through their own power, knowledge or smartness. Worshiping and referencing God is not a subject of how much you have but how much of God’s blessings, free gifts and provision you can see. I was told a story sometimes ago that a man planned to commit a suicide by hanging in the bush. He found a suitable tree, got his rope and for no reason took off his clothing before climbing. There was a man in the bush who was naked, saw him and took the clothes and said, Lord, I thank you for providing this clothing for me to cover my nakedness. When the man on the tree saw him, he said, “There is someone who I’m better off in this life. I hope he prayed to God to forgive him for his ungrateful heart.
Do not only think about what you are yet to have/achieve but also think of those blessings the Lord has given you no matter how small you think it might be and trust Him for a greater thing in the future while you are working and waiting upon the Lord for a glorious future. I pray that you may receive the grace to remember and appreciate the faithfulness of God in your lives, health, finances, career, ministry and families. Amen.
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