Are You Persevering in Prayer???

“I am weary.”  That’s what I told God this weekend.  And those were about the only words I was able to send up at that moment because I was weary.  I had prayed long and hard about something, watched God bring a victory, was enjoying the victory—then saw the situation suddenly sliding back to where it had been in the beginning.

I was too tired to pray.  Too tired to think.  Too tired to deal with it.  But I had to, so I mostly dealt with it by asking God why I had to deal with it…again.  I didn’t understand.  Why was I back here, praying the same prayers?

We often hear about persevering in prayer until you see the victory.  But sometimes you have to persevere over and over again.  The enemy isn’t going to count it a loss and go home just because your prayers are answered.  He’ll come harder, plan a different strategy, never letting go of his aim to thwart the purposes of God.  Make no mistake….he’s not able to thwart the plans and purposes of God.  But that doesn’t stop him from trying.  And God uses those trials to produce within us perseverance.

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 in anything. ~ James 1:2-4

I wasn’t feeling joy when this trial resurfaced.  Didn’t feel as if I could persevere.  But little by little, God built up my strength to where I could engage.  I could pray, with more and more intensity.  I could stand firm, not allowing the enemy to win this battle.  I could believe again that God is faithful and will show Himself strong in this situation.  I could persevere.  I was no longer weary.

And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  ~ Galatians 6:9

Have you ever seen victory in a situation, only to watch as it’s seemingly taken away?  Ever felt too weary to pray as a result?  Looking back, did you learn perseverance?