Stay in the race…

For the last several years, I have written in my prayer journal daily…

“Create in me a pure heart, renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Honestly, the focus of the prayer and plea to God was on the pure heart. I really did not think much about the second half of the prayer…renewing a steadfast spirit within me.

Over the past several months, the word “steadfast” has a whole new meaning to my heart.

God has been answering that prayer that I did not even realize I was praying.

The definition for steadfast is:

1. Fast fixed; firm; firmly fixed or established; as the stedfast globe of earth.

2. Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering.

When reading this definition, it makes me think of Jesus. He is firm, constant, resolute, not wavering.

If we are to be like Jesus, these traits must be established in us as well.

Steadfastness can only be formed by trials. If life is grand and easy, a steadfast spirit will be hard pressed to develop.

When hardships, trials, failures, rejection, and difficulties arise….the soil is ripe for steadfastness to develop within us.

When I think of steadfast, I think of my daughter.

Years ago, she tried out for her club volleyball team. The coach put her in a different position than the one she had always played, and she was beyond crushed.

I will never forget tucking her in that night after the tryouts. She was sobbing her little blue eyes out.

I had never seen her this devastated.

My heart was breaking and there was absolutely nothing I could do to help her.

I assured her that God had a plan in this and that one day she would see.

The next week she went to practice and something had changed in her demeanor. There was a resolve in her that I had not seen before.

After practice she announced to me and her father that if she could not play in the position she had always played— then she was determined to learn this new position and give it all she had.

She asked us to get her lessons so that she could grow in her new position and be valuable to her team.

God was preparing the soil in her heart and it was a beautiful thing to witness.

She had firmly and resolutely decided to accept this new position and move forward.

Often, my daughter and I talk about that season of her life. We talk about how that hardship changed her and molded her. Never again did she take a practice or an opportunity to develop her skills on the volleyball court for granted.

When life gets rocky and hard, we have an incredible opportunity to grow in steadfastness of spirit. We never want to have these trials, but they are inevitable if we are to grow in Christ-likeness.

The past few months our family has been in a long health battle with my father. It has been one step forward, two steps back many days.

Just when we think things are getting better, a set back has happened.

We are all weary.

Yet, we cling to God’s Word. It will never return void.

We cling to God’s Promises of Peace, Mercy, and Joy.

“He will never leave us or forsake us” Hebrews 13:5

Often trials are marathons, not sprints.

We are seeing this in our family.

Marathons take a long time. They require steadfastness and endurance of a high level.

It would be so easy to throw in the towel. To throw our hands up at God and be angry by all of these set backs.

Yet, we have seen the faithfulness of God. Over and over and over.

We remember His Faithfulness and Goodness.

We know He is doing a work in this and that one day we will all be stronger and better for it.

Our flesh wants to fail, but our hearts cling to Jesus and The Hope of His Presence with us at all time.

I have fallen to my knees more time than I can count during this marathon.

Our Hope is not in the outcome, but in Jesus.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Psalm 57:7

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil..Hebrews 6:19

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11

These are just a few scriptures to encourage you in a steadfast heart.

If you are in desperate need of some hope this very moment, try these things daily:

Praise and Worship from the moment your feet hit the floor.

Read the book of Psalms. Over and over and over.

Hit your knees in prayer multiple times a day.

Pray for someone else. (POWERFUL)

Do not complain. Speak only HOPE. (people will think you are crazy, but amazing things happen in the spiritual world when our words change.)

Thank God for your trials. (again, people will think you are crazy, but

God will use this trial to make you more Christ-like).

Read about King David, Esther, Ruth, Paul….read and learn about them. Their lives will encourage you!

lacing up my marathon shoes,

jill