A Good Word Wednesday #36

Steadfast ⚓ ✝️ ❤️

Good Word of the Day: Steadfast

This word kept popping up during my reading through Psalms with my discipleship group. Check it out — Psalm 90:14; Psalm 92:2; Psalm 98:3. To save you time, I have listed them, and a few extra, in the Wednesday in the Word section below.

This word captured my attention because our world is constantly in a state of change. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying “change is the only constant in life.” This saying has also been translated to “the only constant is change.”

steadfast: adjective

1. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving. synonym: faithful.

2. Fixed or unchanging.

3. Fixed or unmovable.

Johnny and I moved often when we were children. His dad was in the military so they moved to multiple locations. They lived in four states, eight cities and Johnny attended 10 schools through high school. My dad was a pastor. He was one that moved to a new church every few years. Growing up, I lived in three states, 10 towns and attended seven schools. Interestingly, since we’ve been married almost 40 years, Johnny and I have lived in only two cities, moved three times and lived in four apartments or houses. We were both ready to grow deep roots.

How much has your life changed in the last month? The last year? The last three years? People move. Friends divorce. Our children graduate. Our parents pass away. Our country seems unrecognizable due to leaders and laws constantly changing.

Let’s go back in time three years. I wrote the following blog to highlight change due to Covid. I know you have your own story. Here’s mine:

And God said…

It was a whisper. I had heard His whisper before. In the night when I woke up, I heard it.

I had been troubled this week. Haven’t we all? I mean, I’ve never had to help write global communications for a nonprofit during a pandemic. We all found ourselves in strange settings during those days. Parents suddenly morphed into homeschool teachers. Employees found themselves working from home. Pastors were preaching to empty sanctuaries and video cameras.

It was weird. For all of us.

I already worked from home so that wasn’t a big deal. Except that Johnny started working from home too. I gave him my nice quiet dedicated office space and I began working in the sitting room in the front of the house. I labeled it my writing den during that season. I was not suffering very much. And on nice days, I worked out on the deck when I wasn’t on a Zoom call. Which seemed to be very often.

My days were different when I began sharing my quiet home all day long with Johnny. But we developed a rhythm and it worked out well. We hadn’t had lunch together on weekdays that much in a very long time. At the end of the work day, we met out on the deck and absorbed the sun and relaxed.

Our neighborhood was much the same, except that when I was out for my walk I saw neighbors talking with one another from a minimum of six feet apart. And the kids were out making noise and running amok every day all day like it was summer vacation.

But meanwhile… back to the Voice in the night.

I went to sleep thinking about how everything had changed. Life was topsy-turvy the world over. And then God said, “I’m the same. I never change.” To which I replied, “So what am I supposed to do now, God, while the world is constantly changing?” And He spoke again and I felt Him say, “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Keep writing the stories. Do it for the precious enslaved and abused women and girls. Do it for Me.”

It reminded me of the scripture I selected as my theme verse for our recent She Is Safe annual meeting: “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also, He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Revelation 21:5. Write the words that are trustworthy and true. Yes, that was my calling. That’s what I desired to do. Calling confirmed even in uncertain times.

And that was it. That’s all I heard. And I went quickly back to sleep.

No, it wasn’t an audible thundering Voice. As I said, it was an inaudible whisper. But it was very clear to me – God said, just keep doing what you’re doing… even in unprecedented situations… even when social distancing is a thing… when you have to do church electronically… when you see grocery store shelves empty of toilet paper. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Because when everything changes, He doesn’t.

Time to get back to work.

NOTE: In the three years since I wrote that blog, things have continued to change. Most notably, I began my own nonprofit content writing business in 2021 and continued to write stories. Also, Johnny retired six months ago and I quickly reclaimed my quiet, dedicated office space. Some changes are good! The above story will be included in my upcoming book Unseen People: Sharing Life and Light with Your Neighbors and the Nations. Learn more:

What has not remained steadfast in your life? What good changes have come your way? Please share!

Wednesday in the Word

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:3

"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain." Hebrews 6:19

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. Lamentation 3:22-23

Good Unseen People

This story tells what change loos like from the perspective of a five year old. It is included in my upcoming book.

Good Words I Recommend

A Good Book: The book of James provides insight on how to be steadfast in a shaky world. Learn more about this Bible study from Courtney Doctor.

Another Good Book: I’ve recommended this one before by John Eldredge. It’s about how to be steadfast in a shifting, volatile world.

A Good Blog: Revisit A Good Word Wednesday from August 2022. The word of the day was anchor.

NOTES: Some of the words I recommend have associate links. All that mean is, if you click on them and purchase, I receive some support to continue this good work every Wednesday. Thanks in advance!

There is absolutely no expectation or pressure from me about purchasing products or upgrading from a free to a paid subscription. I am just giving you options should you want them. Let me know if you have questions.

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A Final Word

How do you handle change? Some of us thrive on it and some of us dread it. What do you hold on to when the waters are choppy? I’d love to know how you cope and remain steadfast.

I’m thankful that as followers of Christ, He is our anchor and solid rock. Unchanging. Unmovable. And always with us.

As always, until next week, Share A Good Word with someone today.

Gratefully yours,

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