Faithfulness: A Fruit of the Spirit
After several years of trying to conceive children unsuccessfully, my husband and I began to pursue answers through our doctor; however, we quickly learned that we would not carry a biological child of our own. If we did desire children, it would require several surgeries for both him and me.
Both my husband and I were devastated and walked through a whole spectrum of emotions. For me, I was mostly grieved, then it transitioned to depression, and I landed on bitterness for a season.
Bitterness is Not a Pretty Look
Everything in life is sour to the taste. It colors the world in dissatisfaction. Everyone looks happier. More fulfilled. Then comparison and envy sneak into your heart, robbing you of every good gift and joy.
When I look back at that season, I wish I could go back and remind that young twenty-something that God is faithful. He is the best storyteller, and my story was not ending, but was getting to some of the best parts.
A Word Study on Faithfulness
As we have examined several weeks of the word study on the Fruit of the Spirit, Paul reminds the churches in Galatia of what God’s Spirit produces:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22–23, NIV
This week, the word is faithfulness.
In Greek, the word for faithfulness used in the above verse is pistis. It means faith, trust, belief. This is a deep conviction and, in regard to the New Testament, would mean a deep conviction in God. It also carries the connotation of fidelity within a marriage.
God’s Faithfulness vs. Our Fickleness
Like the children of Israel, we can be moved by emotion or fickleness, yet God is continually faithful to His people. Unable to maintain a holy stature before God because they allowed their hearts to be pulled away by the worship of other nations \, God chose to make a way to be in a relationship with His people.
Paul, who was a persecutor of Christians prior to his conversion, explains the new life afforded to him through Jesus:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20, NIV
Even in our best efforts of trying to be faithful, we fall short. In fact, this same verse could be translated as “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” How wonderful that I do not have to have all the faith, but I can rest in the faithfulness of Jesus!
Jesus' Faithfulness: The Bridge to God
The struggles of this life entice us to forsake God and to indulge in things that would take us further away from Him. The lie that God is withholding something good, which began with Eve in Genesis, demonstrates that we are not the ones who are faithful.
Paul in Galatians repeats over and over that it is through faith alone:
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision [in other words in following the law] has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Galatians 5:6, NIV
The faith (pistis) expressed here is the faith given to us through Jesus' dying on the cross through God’s (agape) love. God extended His unconditional love to us through Jesus.
Jesus was the faithful one who, on the night he was betrayed, in the Garden, asked God to have the cup pass from him, yet faithfully chose to endure the cross.
How Faithfulness is Formed in Us
The fruit of the Spirit — faithfulness — is only produced through us as we meet with God and invite His Spirit into our lives. It is a continual abiding and making home within God that invites this faithfulness into our lives. We cannot produce this type of faithfulness on our own.
So, How Did My Story Turn Out?
After a few years of struggle in our marriage and some much-needed healing, we were invited to participate in a foster care seminar to become licensed foster parents. When we became licensed, Joe and I welcomed a sibling group into our home to help with respite care for their foster mother.
We saw this sweet sibling pair a few times as God softened our hearts to adopt to grow our family.
One day, about nine months after we began the process as licensed foster parents and had a home study completed, we were notified about a baby who had been born. When we learned about this little one, we knew immediately he was meant to be our son.
Six agonizing weeks later, after his birth, we were selected to be his parents.
God's Promise, Before We Even Knew
Before we ever knew we had fertility issues, God had a sweet woman tell me that “God had children for me.” At the time, I was taken aback and didn’t understand how this stranger would know the desire of my heart to grow our family after my husband had returned from a year-long deployment.
But God knew what lay ahead for us and was giving me hope to hang onto during our desert season. He was faithful to fulfill what He spoke over us and has blessed us with three beautiful children, two adopted and one biological. Even when I doubted and wasn’t faithful to God’s plan, he was more than faithful to me.
I Was the One Who Was Not Faithful
I was the one who was not faithful in my thoughts, emotions, and actions at times in our infertility journey toward God. God was always Faithful. He never changes. He is immutable and has a plan.
Often, we don’t know His plan, but if we know His character and that He is faithful, then it's easier to rest in times of uncertainty. Trust Him. It is worth it!
Prayer
God, I thank you that you are the faithful one!
You are trustworthy. You made a way for me, knowing in my sinful nature, I could never close the gap between the depths of my sin and your holiness.
Thank you, Jesus, for choosing to die for me. For choosing to endure the cross, so that I could live. Help me to be faithful to you as your are faithful to me.
Application
Write a letter of gratitude to God today.
Think of all the ways He has been faithful to you. If you need help, below are some ways to express gratitude to God:
His love and steadfast goodness (Psalm 136:1)
His provision for our needs (Psalm 107:1, 9)
His salvation (John 3:16)
His Spirit and resurrection power (Romans 8:11)
The gift of life (Psalm 71:6)