Psalm 13

Before you continue reading, read through Psalm 13 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a new truth to you today.

How long Lord!? Not another week of this... please! Remaining under whatever the Lord has allowed into your life can be hard. Even if you dealt with it well last week and gave your cares and concerns over to Jesus and remained well with Him under it all ... here it is... Monday again! Remaining under an enduring trial is not like the typical story of perseverance that we're used to, where all the hard work pays off in the end as the highlight video with inspiring music plays in the background. Perseverance, like David experienced when he wrote this Psalm, is not about the finish or getting out from under whatever the Lord has allowed to be over us.

Perseverance is learning to trust God while under it --
"... I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.... and worshipping Him in the midst of it.
"... I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me."

Perseverance is where you meet the Lord in the middle of your trials. Perseverance is where you can be brutally honest and transparent with the God who loves you. Perseverance is where you can admit you don't have all the answers, or even all the questions. Perseverance is where God will mature and complete you as you remain under whatever trial He has allowed into your life, and somehow, with Jesus' arm around your shoulder, learn how to consider it all pure joy!

Prayer and Action Steps:

1. Read James 1:2-4 out loud: "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 NIV)
2. Now commit to memorizing James 1:2-4 this week. Repeat it out loud at least once every day. Copy and paste the words in your phone as a daily reminder. 
3. Pray and ask God for perseverance as He wants to give it to you in maturing your faith. Ask Him for the peace and patience to remain under your trials for however long they last, especially for another Monday as the beginning of another week.