For Better For Worse

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1:17 NLT

Even if we've never spoken them, we've all heard it in one form or another, 

"I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith [or] pledge myself to you."

The traditional vows define unfailing love. Covenant love. Till death do us part. It's the 'for better for worse' part that struck me today. We all hope to become better - to be a better person. Kinder. More loving. More understanding. Perhaps better off financially - to be able to provide better. To better help others in need. Nobody sets out to become worse... at anything. But people change. For better. For worse.

Think about this. Our God never changes. NEVER. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, according to His Word. There is nothing wrong with Him. There's nothing lacking in His character. 

Even when your head starts listing all the things that are "wrong" with your life - things that you want to blame God for. He shoulda, coulda, woulda. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God tells us, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  We don't understand. We don't always know why, but what we DO know is God is love. He does not lie. He cannot fail. His ways are perfect. He tells us, I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. 

His plans don't change, neither do His promises. He is trustworthy. Unfailing. God doesn't get better or worse because He is perfect.

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes to see Your fingerprints in every area of our lives. We pray as Paul prayed,  When we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into God’s love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. Father, grant that we may experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen