Is God Reliable?

"Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream with water that is unreliable?" Jeremiah 15:18 (NASB)

In chapter 15 of his prophecy, Jeremiah expresses the frustration and difficulty of his life. He calls himself "a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land" (v. 10). "Everyone curses [him]" (v. 10). The Lord has told Jeremiah that things will be different, that people will look to him for help (v. 11). At this point, however, Jeremiah does not see the good.

Jeremiah calls out in prayer to God. He first gives three requests. He prays that God would remember and notice him, that God would protect him by taking vengeance on his enemies, and that God would not end his life (v. 15).

Jeremiah then gives four responses of his heart. First, he delights in his dedication to God and His Word (v. 16). Second, he is lonely since he has not joined in the frivolity of others, but has been consumed with his service to God (v. 17). Third, he is hurting; Jeremiah describes constant pain that finds no remedy (v. 18a). Fourth, he is uncertain. He doubts God's constancy. At times God seems to be deceptively near to him, but at other times completely absent (v. 18b).

This questioning of God's faithfulness is common for believers who are suffering. They want to know if God is reliable. They want to know how God can promise the things He does and then seemingly let His people down. This doubt is particularly troubling for those, who like Jeremiah, believe that they themselves have been faithful. So where is God?

God responds to Jeremiah with reassurance. God first calls Jeremiah to return to Him and be restored (v. 19). Jeremiah was apparently not quite as close to God as he thought he was. God desired to restore Jeremiah.

After this call for Jeremiah to draw near, God gives him three promises. He promises that Jeremiah will stand before Him as His spokesman who carries His message (v. 19). He promises to make Jeremiah strong, like a fortified wall of bronze (v. 20). He promises to protect Jeremiah so that his enemies will not be able to conquer him (v. 21).

God is faithful. He is reliable. He declared His dependability to Jeremiah and spoke anew of His promises. God is the same for His people today. God never changes. His Word is always true. His promises are always reliable. His character is steadfast, so that what was true of God in the past is still true today. This changeless God can always be relied upon.

Every aspect of God is reliable, and nothing about His character ever changes. The poem below references aspects of God that He specifically declares to be forever: His Kingship, His righteousness, His mercy, His truth, His love, the sufficiency of His death, His Word, and His presence. These things cannot and will not change.

The Same (Sonnet 5)

In days gone by, the reigning King was He,
And He was righteous, merciful, and true.
His love was real, His death enough for me.
His Word endured; He stayed right with me, too.
In life today, as mighty King He reigns,
I see His mercy, truth, and righteousness.
I know His love; His death still breaks sin’s chains.
His Word holds firm; His presence is no less.
In years to come, almighty King He’ll be.
His mercy, truth, and righteousness He’ll show.
His love will last, His death sufficient be.
His Word will stand; He’ll always with me go.
So yesterday, today, forever, just
The same is He - so worthy of my trust.

People change, but God does not change. Believers need not fear that He is fickle. They need not doubt that He is dependable. There should be no worries that He is weak and therefore cannot maintain the character He once had. God is just as strong, just as true, just as reliable as He ever was. Believers can safely rest in this unchanging Rock. The dependable God of Jeremiah is the one who still faithfully keeps His people today.

"For I, the LORD, do not change." Malachi 3:6 (NASB)