Sara Groves has been a favorite musician of mine for many years. When Brandon and I were first married and in a communication stalemate, he would say, “Go listen to some Sara Groves, please.” We laugh about this now because the Lord has been gracious to grow us a lot since then; but it remains true that much of her music speaks what I am thinking…but better.
So, after some background, here are the lyrics to one of her songs that the Lord has used to produce praise in my heart. Yesterday’s sermon was on praise, and I have been mulling over my heart’s lack luster worship. Dwelling on the words of this song causes me to praise the Lord for his perfect faithfulness.
He’s Always Been Faithful
- Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God’s hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
CHORUS:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me
I can’t remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can’t
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
CHORUS
This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
CHORUS
As I was listening to this song with Jane earlier, I was struck by the fact that God is only one in my entire life about whom I can say, “He’s always been faithful to me.” It took me repeating it a few times in my head to let it sink in…the only one…ever. And even when life sucks and I think, “how can God use this for my good?” (e.g. getting mastitis at least 6 times in under three months and having to stop nursing)…He does. I can look back now and thank the Lord for every bout of sickness and every heart-wrenching step because I see where He has brought me through it.
This song is a rendition ( in both lyrics and music) of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”…one of my favorite hymns. When we counted Jane’s age in days, and I was up with her every two hours feeding and soothing, I clung to and sung the truth of this song. Specifically, I sung over and over, “Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.”
I read a little about the (rather intriguing) history of this song, and I discovered that Chisholm was a Kentucky native…how fitting!
Great is Thy Faithfulness
- Thomas Chisholm
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
My heart is particularly quieted by these lyrics as I look to the next few months and the massive amount of uncertainty that lies therein. I know nothing of what is ahead for us, but I do know that all I have ever needed His hand has provided.
Lamentations 3: 22-23
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
