Persevere in Prayer

Dear Sisters,

Happy March! What joy to see the first day of spring on this month’s calendar! Spring paints such a beautiful picture of hope for the future as trees and plants bud and flower. It even has a fresh scent that smells like hope! Whether you’re longing for spring temps or His spring rains on dry and weary hearts, look to the God of hope. Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:2-5).

Praying that you have a hope-filled week!

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Job was a real person, in a real place, with real problems. Within a day, his oxen and donkeys were carried off by the Sabeans and the servants who cared for them were put to the sword, his sheep and the servants that cared for them were burned by fire, his camels and the servants who were with them were raided by the Chaldeans, and his children died when a house collapsed on top of them (Job 1:14-19). Job was also afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and distressed by a foolish wife who told him to “Curse God and die” (Job 2:7-9).

Although Job did not turn away from God, he did do battle with hopelessness. Sometimes his hope was rooted in solid ground: Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face (Job 13:15). Sometimes it felt like hope had been yanked out of his life by the roots: He tears me down on every side till I am gone: he uproots my hope like a tree (Job 19:10). He even said trees were better off than people: At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail (Job 14:7).

There were moments when Job expressed hope that God would acquit him after death: If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come (Job 14:14). And there were times when Job’s hope was diminished and all he could see in his future was death and decay: My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. If the only home I hope for is the grave . . . where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me (Job 17:1, 13, 15)?

Today, maybe your hope feels like it’s been yanked by the roots, and your prayers . . . well, you’re not even able to pray anymore. Think on these prayer lessons from Job’s life:

1. Persevere in prayer. Job persevered in prayer asking God to give him the desires of his heart: Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for (Job 6:8).

2. God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us (Oswald Chambers). Whether we see it or not, God blesses those who persevere. We consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about (James 5:11).

3. Put your hope in God. Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him (Job 13:15a). Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and My God (Psalm 43:5).

Prayer Step: Pray that your perseverance will be inspired by hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down. John Wesley

Grace and peace,
Lenae