But God never fails

Psalm 62:8 O my people, trust in God at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for he is our refuge.

Last Sunday I visited a church with my family. The sermon was about storms (from Acts 27), times when we might feel forsaken, and learning to remember God’s promises in those moments. Afterward, we sang the song “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship. As we sang, scenes from my entire life flashed before my eyes. I will copy the lyrics below, and I will fill in a few of these scenes, as I believe they are “But God” moments.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine

He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps

So this is my story and this is my song

I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

He didn’t fail you then

He won’t fail you now

When I was three years old, afraid of going upstairs at night, and my sister Rachel taught me to sing “this little light of mine…”

With my sisters visiting our grandparents in Bolivia, Rachel (left), Karis (center)

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was in first grade in Brazil, praying for the Lord to bring my mom and sister home safely from her surgery in the U.S…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was in second grade, afraid I would never have a friend, I learned Jesus could be my friend…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him

When I was at home at night working on a book report about The Hiding Place, and my dad rushed to the hospital to be with my mom as my sister might be dying…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was in middle school on a missions trip, so shy I could not open my mouth – the Lord gave me words to speak, and he gave me friends…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was in high school and the world had lost all color – because I could not see God’s love as my sister suffered in the ICU, so I could not believe in love, so I could not believe in God, then I decided…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him

When I was in high school, overwhelmed by living in different friends’ houses since my mom was in the U.S. with Karis for intestinal transplant and my dad traveled often, with the uncertainty of my sister’s illness and many giants too great for me to conquer, I found comfort in singing “GREAT is the Lord…”

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was a freshman at Notre Dame, at a loss before all the staggering changes in my life – from a small school in Brazil to a large school in the U.S., I knew God remained the same, “Great is thy Faithfulness…”

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was a sophomore at Notre Dame, at times feeling profoundly alone, I found a beautiful community of people from all over the world…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him

When I was a junior at Notre Dame, studying abroad in Italy, struggling to find a Christian community, I found the Baha’i community and was embraced

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I was in Brazil after my junior year, connected to friends everywhere and nowhere, feeling lost, God opened the door to the kindling of a relationship with my future husband

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I finished with Notre Dame and nursing school, unsure of how to continue a relationship long-distance, God opened doors for me to move back to Brazil and we were married there amidst beautiful springtime flowers…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him

That’s why I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

Oh, I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

I sought the Lord

When I arrived in Pittsburgh in January 2014 to spend time with Karis, after a long time apart and challenging communication due to her brain fog, I had rich days with her in the hospital, days before she left us…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord (and He delivered me from all my fears)

I sought the Lord (from everything)

And He heard and He answered, oh

That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him

When I was starting my life in Pittsburgh with Cesar, as we looked for jobs and a place to live…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

When I struggled with infertility…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

My precious miracle son, Caleb, now six years old

When I was living through the nightmare of Covid isolation with my family…

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust in God

There are many other stories I could tell, but I want to share a moment recently when I felt that I failed to trust the Lord – my daughter was admitted to the hospital due to dehydration, and I felt that everything was out of control, my anxiety was heightened, and I thought this was a sign that I did not know how to trust the Lord.

My daughter Talita, 4, happy and well again.

I have realized that trusting the Lord is not about ME, but about THE LORD. He will never fail. Remembering these stories helps me with this blessed assurance.