Experiencing the Faithfulness of a Faithful God

by Grace Fox

Every January for a decade, I attended a week-long retreat for Christian authors. Friendships grew deep as we set aside our writing projects to prioritize our physical and spiritual health with like-minded women. For me, one of the highlights was hearing others’ personal stories.

The common thread woven throughout the tapestry of testimonies was unmistakable: Each of the thirty or so women in the room had experienced soul-deep suffering. One woman recalled spending her childhood trying to protect her younger siblings from their dad’s nightly alcohol-induced rages. Another woman’s son was serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole. A third was currently caring for her husband who had been stricken by a debilitating disease. And the list went on.

I marveled at the inner strength these women possessed. It came not from reading a self-help book but by spending time in God’s presence, and it grew as they learned to live from the truth of who He is. It carried them through deep lows and dark valleys to a place of intimacy with God that permeated their person and pervaded their writing.

Kay Arthur said, “God can take our greatest disappointments and use them to make us stronger than we ever imagined.” That’s what He has done in my friends’ lives, and He has done the same for me.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced to date was saying goodbye to my three-day-old daughter Stephanie not knowing whether I would see her alive again. My husband and I were working with a non-profit in Nepal when she was born with hydrocephalus—too much water on the brain. The surgeon who delivered her by C-section told us that we must return to North America on the first available flight because he did not have the resources to help her.

Because I’d had a C-section, the international airline labeled me a medical high risk and refused to issue me a ticket. As a result, my husband made the decision to take Stephanie to North America on his own. I remained in Kathmandu for another week.

I’ll never forget trying to memorize Stephanie’s face before my husband took her from me, wrapped her in a blanket, and raced for the airport. After they left, I cried a bucketful of tears and asked God, “What do you want me to learn through this?” He answered by bringing the lyrics of the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” to mind. I had no clue what my family’s future held, but the well-known song assured me that God would be faithful no matter what.

Stephanie underwent a dozen surgeries and a bout with meningitis before her second birthday. The road was rough and the journey was tough, but God kept His promise to be faithful because that’s who He is. For instance, He provided childcare for our twenty-month-old son when I had to be at the hospital with Stephanie. He provided a pediatrician who truly cared about Steph’s well-being, and He provided coverage for her medical bills.

Stephanie survived, and my story has a happy ending, but I realize this isn’t always the case. Regardless of the outcome, however, God is no less faithful. That’s the truth, but Satan wants to cast doubt on God’s character especially when the hard times hit. He knows we’ll succumb to stress, fear, and perhaps anger toward our situation and ultimately toward God if our thoughts about His nature are inaccurate. But we don’t have to let the enemy win.

Writing a three-book series about the names of God is my way of defeating the enemy’s destructive intent. Each book takes a deep dive into seven of God’s Hebrew names so we can better understand who He is and the difference this makes in our lives.

The third book in the series, Names of God: Growing Strong, includes the name El Emunah which means “Faithful God.” It describes God as loyal, steadfast, trustworthy, constant, and true. The Hebrew word emunah carries ideas of firmness, reliability, and unwavering support. It comes from a root word that infers pillars or supports holding up a structure. It offers us a beautiful image of God as the pillar on which we lean when life trembles beneath our feet.

Moses referred to God by this name when he said, “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God [El Emunah] who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

The women I mentioned earlier possess extraordinary inner strength because they know what it means to experience God’s loyalty and steadfastness when circumstances rock their world. They have learned to live from the truth of who God is—El Emunah, “the Faithful God”—and it shows.

I have resolved to live from this truth, too. Remembering that God is constant brings calm amid chaos. Remembering that He is completely trustworthy turns panic to peace. When fear tries to intimidate me, the knowledge of who God is gives me courage to stand my ground.

Perhaps circumstances have rocked your world, too. If so, pick up a copy of Names of God: Growing Strong and invite your friends to join you in discovering the truth about who God is. Each of the seven sessions includes bonus video teaching. Together let’s explore the infinite beauty and power of God’s character so that we can grow stronger than we ever imagined amid life’s disappointments and challenges. 

Grace Fox is a career missionary and award-winning author of 16 books including Names of God: Growing Strong. The first in this series, Names of God: Living Unafraid, won the Christian Editor’s Choice Award 2025. Learn more and subscribe to her free devotional updates at www.gracefox.com.