As Jeremiah declared in Lamentations 3:23, great is the faithfulness of the God we serve. Our loyalty and devotion may stray from Him often, especially as we become distracted in limerence. Nevertheless, we can trace God’s unending faithfulness toward us throughout our lives. It encourages us to dedicate our wholehearted devotion to Him alone.
When Faithfulness Is Misplaced
Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Faithfulness is a word that immediately (and rightfully) brings to mind God’s promise-keeping character. No one has proven his or her faithfulness as amazingly as the Lord has throughout history. Yet in limerence the loyalty in our hearts is sadly misplaced, directed toward someone other than our faithful God.
Annually, my church youth group attended a week-long high school summer camp. One of the nights featured a student talent show. As a singer-songwriter full of passion in limerence, I went on stage to sing parts of some songs I wrote.
Before singing I shared that I had never officially had a boyfriend, but I wanted one more than anything else. Some boys in the audience shouted out, “We’d date you!” I appreciated their empathetic offer, but I couldn’t help thinking, “Thanks, but you’re not him. You’re not the one I love with all my heart.”
It’s heartbreaking to realize I essentially told God the same thing every day I continued to long for my UTHC. While I thanked Him daily for the blessings of salvation and provision of basic needs, I did not understand how His faithfulness extended to me by keeping me from my heart’s greatest desire. My own unwavering, misplaced dedication to my UTHC really blinded me from seeing things through His eyes.
God’s Heart for His Children
Deuteronomy 10:15 – “Yet the Lord set His heart in love on your fathers and their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”
Deuteronomy 10:15 was spoken to God’s chosen people Israel. Geographically, Israel is a small nation in the greater context of the whole world. Yet she is mighty because of the blessings God poured out upon His people and the power He displayed through them.
As I was reading Deuteronomy earlier this year, this verse stuck out to me unexpectedly. It struck me that God set His heart in love on not only the people of Israel but also to anyone whom the Holy Spirit calls into His Kingdom.
Reading this verse again now as I write, I am further moved by the words “in love.” God doesn’t simply come after us to expand His dominion. He reigns over all of heaven and earth anyway, without our contributions to His work. He set His heart on blessing us because we are His children, so He loves us with a steadfast love.
So even when we act as unfaithfully to Him as many nonbelievers do, His heart is for us to return to Him. Then when we humbly seek His face again, we receive His love in full. We begin to recognize His faithfulness in the smallest details.
Tracing God’s Faithfulness in Our Lives
If we look discerningly at our pasts, we can see God’s faithfulness at every turn. God may seem distant in suffering, while in fact He is very near and carries us when we cannot stand. (Psalm 34:18) We may not understand why He works out certain things the way He does, but He is trustworthy in those questioning moments. (John 13:7)
We can learn much about His faithfulness by considering how He uses difficult circumstances and personal struggles to accomplish His good will in our lives. There are enough examples just from my own life to write many books, but I will briefly mention only some of the most significant here.
1. Biblically Sound Environment
God nurtured me in a Bible-believing home, school and church. I was constantly surrounded by people who preached the gospel and how it changes everything. This spoke into my overwhelming desire for a romantic relationship, ensuring me God’s plan for me was better than I could imagine.
2. Physical Safety
When I walked alone to my almost-boyfriend’s house in the middle of the night, God faithfully protected me. It wasn’t a great neighborhood, and I believe God may have sent an angel to prevent would-be predators from approaching me. He knew I wasn’t particularly concerned for my own safety at the time, so He kept me safe.
3. Denied Romantic Relationships
Frequently, even after God freed me from my most intense period of limerence, I became distracted from following Him by the allure of new potential romantic interests. He shut down any chance of having a relationship with them as more than friends. This reminded me to turn to Him instead, the one who gives everlasting joy, peace and faithful love. By surrendering my heart to Him and seeking His presence first I would find “pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
Consider God’s Faithfulness to You
I could say much more about God’s faithfulness to me. The point is that He works through every part of our lives to fulfill His wonderful plans for us. How has He been faithful to you in the past, and how might He be demonstrating His faithfulness to you now? Consider the great things He has done for you personally. (1 Samuel 12:24)
In response, I encourage you to call upon the Holy Spirit to grow you in faithfulness to the Lord in return. Is He telling you that you need to let go of your fantasies and cling to Him? Is He encouraging you not to give up the fight, because He is worth the work? Listen for His voice and be faithful to follow Him, “for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)
Psalm 63:8 – “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Joshua 24:14 – “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.”
