Sunflowers

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:23

While reading the book of Lamentations I was reminded of an overcast day in April of this year when I was driving down I-170.  It was rush hour and I was literally the only person on the road because of the state-wide mandatory lock-down due to COVID-19.  One month later after the Memorial Day weekend the city of St. Louis along with the rest of the country was up in arms because of the murder of George Floyd, yet another senseless murder of an African American male by a white police officer.  Just as in Lamentations it seemed that death and destruction was running rampant in the streets. 

We were concerned about the most vulnerable in our cities, the children and the elderly.  We were concerned about the thousands of people who had lost their jobs.  We were concerned about the hundreds of small businesses that would not survive these times.  There was a sense of fear, loss and discouragement in the air.  People were not allowed to be with their loved ones during sickness or death, the time when we are used to coming together to comfort each other.  Families were not allowed to visit each other.

And then, just like that, in July, sunflowers appeared.  Bright yellow sunflowers standing tall in a field, stretching up to the heavens.  Children were laughing and playing while running through the fields.  Couples were taking selfies while walking through the fields.  Though times remain uncertain as it relates to the COVID-19 we can be assured that God’s faithfulness is great.  Just as Jeremiah proclaimed God’s greatness in the middle of his lament, the sunflowers remind us that God’s faithfulness is something we can depend on in good times and in bad times. 

We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of the people who are giving out food packages.  We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of the people who are giving out diapers.  We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of the young people who are grocery shopping for the elderly.  We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of people distributing face masks.  We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of the health-care workers that go to work every day.  We are seeing His faithfulness in the faces of the clerks at the grocery stores, and on and on.  Just as we have seen His faithfulness in the lilies of the field, we are seeing His faithfulness in the sunflowers.  Great is His faithfulness!

While looking for the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness several versions by major recording artists appeared.  This one is being sung by a bridesmaid in a wedding party.  Watch as the Spirit overtakes the groom.