Read
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
Reflect
Have you ever tried to remember something by repeating it over and over? Maybe it was a phone number, an address, a locker combination, or the answer to a test question you were trying desperately not to forget. Sometimes, by saying something again and again, the message works its way into our brain and stays there.
Psalm 136 works a lot like that.
There are 26 verses in the psalm, and every single one repeats the same phrase: “for his steadfast love endures forever.” The writer clearly wanted that truth to sink in. He did not want us to read it once, nod politely, and move on. He wanted us to hear it again. And again. And again.
Why?
Because we forget.
We may know that God is good. We may believe that He created the heavens, formed the earth, made the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. We may know that He has provided, protected, forgiven, rescued, and remained faithful through every generation.
But then a hard day comes.
A relationship gets strained. A bill shows up. A plan falls apart. A fear settles in. A prayer seems unanswered. Suddenly, what we know in our heads can feel very far away from what we are carrying in our hearts.
That is when the refrain matters.
“His steadfast love endures forever” is not just a line to memorize. It is a truth to hold onto. It reminds us that God’s love is not fragile. It does not expire. It does not weaken when our circumstances get difficult. It does not depend on our mood, our performance, or our ability to understand everything happening around us.
The God who spoke light into darkness is still good. The God who created the sun, moon, and stars still reigns. The God who delivered His people from Pharaohs, kings, enemies, wilderness, sin, and even death is not intimidated by the problems we face today.
So when the day is hard, repeat what is true.
When you are afraid, repeat what is true.
When you feel alone, repeat what is true.
When you do not know what comes next, repeat what is true.
His steadfast love endures forever!
Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
