Suzi Pitts, Director of Communications

Lamentations 3:22-24
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

Reflection:
Don’t you love the song, Great Is Thy Faithfulness? Did you know that it comes from Lamentations, which is a five-part poem of… lament? Such happy, loving praise to a faithful God. What’s impressive is that the prophet wrote this in the most devastating period in the life of Israel. Babylon had just sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. They were kicked out of the promised land, and their only connection to God for absolution of their sin was destroyed. What was left? Had God called strike three, and they were out? Had God left town? Had evil had the final word? Where is this hope?

It was Valentine’s Day in 1992 when I got a call from my mom who was on vacation, watching my dad play tennis. She sounded a bit concerned about swelling above her collar bone on her neck. I told her to quit worrying and enjoy the day because it was probably just swollen glands.

But it wasn’t, and her visit to the doctor ended up in an appointment to Sloan Kettering and a devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 Lung Cancer. The battle began; radiation, chemotherapy, hospitalizations. It was really, really hard. I had very young children and would commute an hour each way to visit, encourage, read her devotional, “God Calling” and take her out for lunch. Side fact – she could never eat, and always had me order for her and encourage me to try some of hers. Hello 20 pounds.

But I digress… I want to tell you about her faith. She absolutely adored Jesus and saw him as her savior, Lord and healer. Her church and prayer group prayed for her through the months. She read her Bible every single day and it was well underlined with scriptures she had loved over the years. She had me read certain scriptures to her, especially Proverbs 3: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.” We pounded the gates of heaven and her friends thanked God for the physical healing that was to come. But it didn’t.

In mid-July, I was on the phone with her one morning and started singing “Great is thy faithfulness, o God my father. There is no shadow or turning with Thee.” And then I had a mental block and she continued, “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto to me.” That off-key duet was that last thing we shared, and her final conscience words to me. On July 17, surrounded by the love of our whole family, she finally met her Jesus face to face.

So, how was God faithful to us, even though physical healing did not come, and the grief was enormous? Some comfort came from a Bible verse she starred and underlined from Psalm 73:  “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” And my addition? No matter what.

Closing Prayer:
God, you are good and your lovingkindness and faithfulness endure forever. Thank you that we do not have to understand why things end up the way we do. Help us to always remember that for us, it is good to be near you. Remind us to lean into you, our refuge and strength. And mostly, give us hearts of gratitude for all your presence. Then propel us forward to make your name famous!  It’s in the strong name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.