When I was a teenager, there was a song that TOOK OVER the radio. The song was called “Tubthumping” by the band Chumbawamba. The chorus included the refrain, “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You are never gonna keep me down.” If you’ve ever heard the song, you know it’s one of those songs which is simple, repeats incessantly, and gets lodged into your brain.
There’s something about those songs which are super repetitive that get stuck in your head to the point where you find yourself humming the melody or mumbling the words, seemingly against your own will.
On a similar note, as a pastor who has only served multi-generational churches, I know there is a segment of the population which pushes against some of the repetition common in modern worship lyrics. However, there is something powerful and formative about repetition. Samuel Johnson famously said, “People need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed.” In a world addicted to what’s new, we need to be reminded again and again of what’s true.
One of the best examples of this is found in Psalm 136. The psalm opens like this:
Starting with these three verses, this pattern continues for the entire 26 verses of the chapter. 26 times in 26 verses, we are reminded that God’s faithful love endures forever. We read the psalmist declaring again and again that God's love is steadfast, rooted-in-covenant, and unfailing.
I encourage you to take some time to read Psalm 136 this week and let the words really sink into your heart and soul. Because the love described in this chapter stands in stark contrast to the love we’ve experienced elsewhere.
In our friends, family, and even romantically, we’ve all felt like someone loved us and then their actions reflected anything and everything but love. Some of us have been told by someone else that they no longer love us, while others have experienced a “loved one” act towards us in such a way that utterly betrayed their confession of love.
There was a season in my 20s when I had a friend and mentor who would end nearly every lengthy conversation with a similar phrase. “I love you, Scott. I believe in you. I think your future's so bright.” However, I struggled when those declarations of love and belief led to this mentor with-holding opportunities for me to grow in that giftedness or even step out of his shadow. I heard words of love and belief, but what I longed for were actions that reflected that love and belief.
It was in that very season that I was reminded our God isn’t like that. He doesn’t just say He loves us; He shows us how He loves us. While 26 times may seem repetitive, annoying, or even overkill, we need to be reminded again and again that this is who our God is. If we were to make a list of the ways He has loved us with an unfailing love, we’d need far more than 26 verses!
Consider the account of Jesus forgiving Peter in John 21. What does Jesus ask Peter? “Do you love me?” “Yes, I love you,” Peter replies. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus instructs him. This conversation is repeated three times. The text indicates Peter begins to lose patience by the third time. Now, many have speculated on the meaning of the repetition, but one thing is clear - Peter needed the repetition, as do we.
So, when you think about God’s unfailing love - how it continues even when everyone else’s love runs out, I encourage you to consider creating some visual reminders of God’s love.
1. Write your testimony. Even if you’ve never shared your testimony publicly, it’s a worthwhile endeavor to write down the story of your life before you met Jesus, how you became a follower of Jesus, and what Jesus has done in your life since you began following Him. Once you've written your testimony, review it regularly and share it whenever you can. Knowing and re-telling your story with Jesus will remind you of His unfailing love.
2. Create pictures or decorations in your work and home that visually share your testimony of God’s unfailing love. Perhaps there’s a picture of your baptism or a moment when you felt God’s love in an especially pronounced way. Is there a quote or Bible verse that expresses how much God loves you? I know of friends who have literally tattooed the word “Beloved” on their body as an ever-present reminder of God’s unfailing love. Whatever that looks like for you, create a prompt that redirects your mind to this truth.
3. Empower people around you who remind you when you forget. We often talk about accountability partners who help us overcome sin and avoid wrong paths. While it’s helpful to have friends who keep us from the bad, don’t we also need friends who remind us of the good? Who reminds you of what you’ve forgotten? What if you empowered someone by sharing this devotional with them or your written testimony, asking them to help you in this area where you find yourself especially forgetful?
God’s unfailing love is so powerful, especially in the moments when we fail, falter, and forget. Erik Nieder in his song, "Faithful," reminds us of God’s unfailing love.
RELATED CONTENT: Erik Nieder Shows God’s Unending Loyalty and Inescapable Love in “Faithful”
When it feels like everyone else’s love has run out on you…
When it feels like you are not faithful, not believing, and nowhere close to where you want to be…
Remember that God’s love has never failed you. His unfailing love never will!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer with the coolest last name ever. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He helps hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com
