“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
Perseverance in prayer often results from situations we would not intentionally choose. Following an unexpected announcement, our shock and disbelief gave way to prayer. Nothing in our family would ever be the same again. At first, our tearful pleas begged for rescue, but as weeks turned into months, our prayers became simpler, although no less fervent.
Though we may not feel it, God is as present in the fervency of stunned grief as he is in the marathon of weeks and years when nothing changes. God is never surprised, nor does he grow weary when our prayers continue unchanged through many years.
God Blesses Believers with Opportunities to Pray
When Paul admonished the readers of Philippians to “pray without ceasing,” he understood there would be times when God’s answer was not forthcoming, when our prayers would endure for years without seeing any change in our circumstances. In such times, we remember Romans 5:3-5: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Not long after the devastating news hit us, we realized God had a purpose in revealing the news when he did. It was not so much that God needed our prayers. He can do whatever is necessary without our help, but at times he allows us to participate to teach us and mature us in our prayer life and our spiritual walk.
Perseverance in Prayer Brings Glory to God
James gives deep insights into such circumstances when he writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). For perseverance to finish its work, time must pass. Sometimes a great deal of time.
When we prayed for children, first while hoping to become pregnant, and later as we waited to adopt, we prayed fervently and often. It was no chore to pray. We looked forward to a joyous outcome, though we didn’t know the timing. In our current situation, the hoped-for outcome is no less joyous to anticipate. It will lead to the salvation of a soul and what will appear to the world as an almost unheard-of reversal. God will be glorified.
Perseverance in Prayer Rewards with Maturity
James offered some advice for us in praying for lengthy time periods. In James 1:6-8, he says,
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
When our waiting extends for long time periods, it is human nature to doubt. But James says that is exactly the wrong thing to do. God is developing our faith. If there comes a day when we realize our answer is “no,” we can be assured God’s purposes in us were still accomplished. We matured.
In the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11:13a tells us: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised.” Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, and many others down through history died without seeing the answers to their prayers. The importance of the prayer was in praying and believing God for the answer, not in the answers themselves.
What deep need do you pray for? Do not grow weary. Persevere.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31
