In the classic allegory, Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard, the main character, Much Afraid, takes a perilous journey up a mountain because the Shepherd has promised her that when she reaches the summit, she’ll receive healing, beauty, and love. Along the way, everytime she encounters a crisis of faith, she picks up a stone to keep with her as a reminder of what she’s endured and the promises she’s been given. Finally, when she reaches the high places (spoiler alert, she makes it), the Shepherd King fulfills all his promises and changes Much Afraid’s name to Grace and Glory. Then he turns each stone into a jewel, which he sets into a crown that he places on her head. Hurnard writes:

At that moment Grace and Glory remembered the cave in which she had sheltered from the floods, and how nearly she had succumbed to the temptation to discard as worthless those stones which now shone with glory and splendor in the crown upon her head. She remembered, too, the words which had sounded in her ears and restrained her, “Hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Supposing she had thrown them away, had discarded her trust in his promises, had gone back on her surrenders to his will? There could have been no jewels now to his praise and glory, and no crown for her to wear. 

This month, our prayer focus is God’s faithfulness. And as I pondered the topic, this came to mind because it’s such a tangible picture of the interweaving of our faith and God’s faithfulness. Of course God is faithful even when we aren’t. His promises are true whether we believe them or not. He keeps His covenant even when His people break every oath. And yet, the Bible clearly shows us that the only way we can fully experience His faithfulness is by faith. By stubbornly staying the course when things get rough. By trusting His promises more than our own feelings.

This has certainly been a year to put that idea to the test. Most of us have been through the ringer, either emotionally, financially, relationally, physically, or all of the above. It’s been brutal, and we’re all bruised one way or another. But we’re not all equally battered. 

Some people sheltered in place on private yachts and lavish mansions; many others crammed extended families into 10×10 shacks. Some have lived in strict lockdown; others have had relative freedom. Some have lost their whole income and faced starvation while others carry on earning and spending much as before. Some have lost friends and family members, while to others the sickness itself feels distant. Some are thrilled by the rollout of vaccines; others don’t trust them. 

These are the extremes. If you’re like me, you fall somewhere between these.

Wherever we are in this spectrum of experiences, we can rest in God’s faithfulness. As hard as it is to believe, His presence and power are not situationally dependent. He showed up inside the fiery furnace for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He was present in the lions’ den with Daniel. He was in the desert with Hagar. He was on the cross. He was in the tomb. He’s always present and fulfilling His promises no matter how bad things look. 

There are literally hundreds of reminders in Scripture of God’s faithfulness. Here are a few favorites:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentation 3:22-23

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The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

    a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know Your name trust in You,

    for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 9:9-10

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The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8

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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?….No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

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Let’s take time this month to soak in God’s promises, to remember all the ways He’s been faithful to us throughout this past year and beyond. And let’s pray for those whose faith is being severely put to the test right now—especially our brothers and sisters in the Majority World who are suffering. Please join us in praying:

  • Pray for those who have turned away from God, believing that God has abandoned them—that the Lord would tenderly and graciously lead them back to Himself.
  • Pray that believers would depend on God like never before and see His provision and faithfulness more clearly than ever. 
  • Pray for those facing hunger, lack of income, unsafe homes, sickness, and loss of loved ones. Pray that they will seek God in the midst of it, walk in obedience, and experience His faithfulness. Pray for provision for every need and for comfort for every grief and trauma.

For an expanded list of prayer points, download our May Prayer Mailing. 

You can also use this 3-minute video: Prayer for Provision in the Time of Covid as a starting place for your prayer.