READ: LAMENTATIONS 3:21-26; 2 TIMOTHY 2:8-13

Baking treats for my family is one way I show love. Years ago, I learned to make brownies from scratch. But one day, something that wasn’t on the ingredients list found its way into the brownies. One family member, Dane, took his first warm, chewy bite—but was dismayed to find a sliver of paper in it. Apparently, I hadn’t removed the entire wrapper from the stick of butter I’d used in the recipe, and Dane found it in his brownie.

I promised to do better. The next time I baked brownies, I offered Dane the first piece, and he enjoyed a paper-free dessert. The next day he got another serving. But this time he found a small scrap of butter wrapper. I’d made the same mistake twice! After that, I assumed it would take a while before Dane would trust my brownies again.

People (and our cooking) can be unpredictable. Some days we treat each other kindly and keep our word. Other days we let each other down in ways that leave behind a trail of hurt and disappointment. Sometimes friends and loved ones break our trust, which can be difficult to rebuild. And sometimes we break theirs. Even after apologies and forgiveness, it may take time for us to open up again as we wonder, What am I going to get this time?

Though we humans are often inconsistent, we can count on God to be true to His character. When we begin a relationship with God by putting our trust in Jesus—the one who took all our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross and rose from the dead—we become God’s children. As we grow in this relationship, we come to know how God relates to His people: with consistent forgiveness, love, and compassion. God poured out all His wrath toward sin and evil on Jesus at the cross, so now His children can rest in His faithful mercy and lovingkindness. Even when we are unfaithful, He will always be perfectly faithful to us, and He will never break our trust. • Allison Wilson Lee

• When is it hard for you to trust God? Consider taking a moment to tell Him about this.

• What are some things that remind you of God’s faithfulness—such as Bible verses, songs, personal experiences, the experiences of others, etc.?

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)