Steadfast Love Beneath Life’s Changes

WE give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all the long line of holy judgments and solemn warnings by which Thou dost teach us that Thou art the One, only, invisible, eternal God. And though we are delivered from the folly of crying to wood and stone for help, may we not make of Thee a fond idol for our desires, instead of worshipping Thee purely and holily.

O Lord, our lives are full of variation and change, nothing fixed, nothing abiding, and we are often sad; help us to gain comfort by remembering that in God is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. God is behind all earthly change, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. As we watch the storm-clouds pass over the wintry sky, illumined here and there by the sun’s faint glow, telling of some greater brightness still behind,—so behind the dark things of life, let us remember there is Thy unmoving, untiring love to uplift our souls.

O Thou true Father, Thou liftest the rod that we may be holy; Thou dost banish us from Thy presence that we may feel Thy absence; Thou givest us misfortune that we may come back to Thee. Oh! that when we go astray, we may remember that Thou hast not lost true love for us. Thou dost not love us because we sin, but though we sin. Earthly lovers have loved us and won us to what was good and sweet and true; O Thou greatest of Lovers, draw us to Thyself by the strongest cords of Thy love. Let us so know Thy love that we may cling to it; so know and long for the Life immortal, that we may work for it. And if at times we are very weak, and Thy face seems hidden from us, show us the Good Shepherd whose life was all tears and sadness; let us shelter ourselves close to Him, keep ever by Him who did so greatly love us.

Forgive our sins, redeem our souls, uphold our spirits, deliver through death, and give us blessed entrance into the Life Eternal, that we may dwell with Thee for evermore.—AMEN.