If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13 ESV)

There are times when Christians are less than faithful in their walk. An old hymn, “Come Thou Fount,” expresses the honest prayer of an inconsistent believer: “Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” We are prone to wander and we need the grace of God to grab us and bring us back.

The comfort of Scripture is that when we are faithless to God He remains faithful to us. He does so, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. He cannot deny His nature – God is always faithful. We who are united to Christ by faith are His children. God will not let His children wander away. When we disappoint Him or disobey Him, God does not abandon us. As our loving Father, He is faithful to chase us down, discipline us, and restore us.

But then there are also the times when Christians are faithful in their walk. Yet it is during these times we may be experiencing life at its worst. God seems far away. Not sensing God’s faithfulness strains our desire to remain faithful. What shall we do? A.W. Pink gives us an answer:

There are seasons in the lives of all when it is not easy, no not even for Christians, to believe that God is faithful. Our faith is sorely tried, our eyes bedimmed with tears, and we can no longer trace the outworkings of His love… Cherished plans have been thwarted, friends on whom we relied have failed us, a professed brother or sister in Christ has betrayed us. We are staggered. We sought to be faithful to God, and now a dark cloud hides Him from us. We find it difficult, yea, impossible, for carnal reason to harmonize His frowning providence with His gracious promises. Ah, faltering soul, severely tried fellow pilgrim, seek grace to heed Isaiah 50:10, “Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

Even when God’s light is hidden by darkness, do not doubt God’s faithfulness. Continue to trust in the One whose very nature is to be always faithful. Because if God were to be unfaithful to you, He would stop being God. And that is one thing God can never do.