Faithful. What does that word bring to mind? Before you read further, stop for half a minute and think about how you would explain to a young person what it means to be faithful. (Que Jeopardy music 😊)   

When I think of someone who is faithful, I see someone who “stays the course.” They do what they have said they will do. In friendships they remain by a friend’s side, when others might take a step back. If I am being faithful, I won’t neglect my role of help or support for someone else. When someone depends on me for something, I want to continue to do what’s needed. I faithfully watered my neighbors garden while they were on vacation. I faithfully drove to take my grandma grocery shopping week after week. I made a commitment to be part of a small group, so keeping true to my word, I faithfully attended week after week. 

The Merriam-Webster.com thesaurus says that “faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.”  (Don’t you take that to mean that Merriam and Webster would give my thoughts about “faithful” their thumbs up?)

I’m sure it’s because of what the word faithful means to me that as I read through Isaiah chapter 10 the other day, I stopped, re-read, and began to ponder when I got to verse 20:

On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 10:20 CSB

They will faithfully depend on the Lord!  God is describing people who remain true to their dependence on Him! He wanted the faithfulness of their hearts towards Him to be shown in their faithful dependence! As I read that phrase I sensed such a tenderness in the relationship between our Almighty Shepherd and His sheep-people who humbly remain in His care. They are ever aware of their need of Him. His loving care and provision keeps them contented and grateful that He invites them to be dependent on Him! 

I want God to call me His faithfully dependent child. What would that look like? My first thought is to look at that verse again and determine not to “depend on the one who struck them down”. To me, that describes all the false securities that the world offers. That would also include not trying to do things in my own strength. David wrote about that. “Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7

And of course being faithfully dependent on God would mean that I leave in God’s hands those things that I have prayerfully entrusted to Him. I’m pretty sure that tossing my requests to God taped to the end of a yo-yo only to snatch them back once I’ve said Amen isn’t what God has in mind when He calls me to be faithfully dependent. 

Surely it’s my trust in God’s faithfulness that allows me to be faithful in my dependence on Him. After all, wasn’t it Israel’s lack of genuine trust in their God that led them to make idols for themselves or check out the false gods of their neighbors? They weren’t faithful, they were fickle!

Heavenly Father, You lovingly formed me, gently breathed Your life into me, and have lovingly remained my vigilant Shepherd . From beginning to end Your Word has declared what a faithful God You are, and my life has been a testimony to Your steadfast care. Help me to be Your faithfully dependent daughter. When the enemy tries to use fear to rob me of my trust, expose his lies and whisper Your truth. I declare that it’s in You that I live and move and exist! (Acts 17:28) Help me to always honor You by remaining faithfully dependent! How I love You, Lord! Amen.