Persistent Faith

Yesterday we talked about having “even when” faith.  That faith in God we have even when things look bleak.  I challenged us to trust that God is at work even when we can’t see Him in our circumstances.  If you missed it, you can read it by clicking here.

Today I want to look at our faith from a slightly different angle.

I want to talk about being persistent in seeking answers when what we really want to do is just… give up?  Especially when:

• You’re tired of praying over and over again with no clear answer
• You’re done believing for a miracle because it doesn’t seem to be coming
• You stop trusting God and begin to work your issues out your way

As a Christ-follower, it’s frustrating how easily it is for me to get to this point.  You, too?  Why do we go there?

I’d like to suggest that sometimes the issue might be that we lack persistent faith in a situation.  We become so weary in waiting that rather than push relentlessly until we see a break through, we stop short of a resolution.

We become impatient.  We want to escape the pain, fear and frustration.  We look for the easy answer… the easy way out!

Oh, I get that!!  It just sounds so divine.  But, that’s not necessarily God’s plan.

Now don’t misunderstand me.  Without a doubt, God is capable of answering our cries quickly and completely.  Not only have I seen it, I’ve lived it with regard to my marriage, my health, our finances, etc.

Our Heavenly Father knows when we need resolution now!

But in other situations, our timing and His timing don’t always align.  And it is in times like that, we need persistent faith.

It is in these situations where we must wait it out.  We have to release that sense of urgency into His hands.  We must trust Him and His timing.

Where do you need persistent faith today?

• Are you emotionally flat-lined in your marriage and just want out?
• Is your child in a tough season and challenging you at every turn?
• Are the bills insurmountable and you don’t even know where to start?
• Is the diagnosis such that a miracle is your last hope?
• Are you stuck in an addiction that feels too big to walk away from?

Friends…have endurance, because persistent faith means never giving up.

Think about the woman’s story in Mark 5:25-34 who had been bleeding for 12 years.  She’d spent all she had on treatments, but nothing worked.  She kept holding out hope that the next medicine or therapy would deliver her.

You see, she had persistent faith.

Rather than give in to despair, depression, anger, fear, or hopelessness… she believed and stayed the course.  She continued to reach for the healing she so desperately wanted.  Giving up was never an option.

And in His perfect timing, she experienced complete and immediate healing with just one touch of Jesus’ robe.

Sisters, never give up hope in your circumstance because He will always answer our cries.

• Sometimes your answer is immediate and complete restoration
• Sometimes your answer is discovered through the journey
• Sometimes your answer isn’t answered the way you expected

But one thing we know for sure… it’s our persistent faith that gets us to the other side of our circumstance.

Be unshakable.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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