something big.

'persist: to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action..'

'But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' Isaiah 40:31

I feel as though i am learning the true meaning of perseverance, of persisting to see my fathers beautiful path, in the times when it's easiest to give up, to slump down and give in to the darkness trying to press it's way in. It is then that i MUST take a quiet moment and say to my heavenly papa 'Father, my strong and mighty father, i can't fight this anymore, my heart screams out for satisfaction from things that won't ultimately satisfy, i need you right now Jesus, more than anything, I know you will satisfy, i know you're forever having to show me your truth, that your love is better, but please, in this moment of pain, i welcome you in'

Jesus comes into our pain and brokenness, and wipes those tears off our face and says 'my child, i love you, come back to me, I AM all you need. I AM.' It is a huge lesson in persistence, it goes against what our soul naturally wants to do, we have an idea in our head on what is going to satisfy, and only end up hurting as we've poured a part of ourself out to something that doesn't last, only to be left feeling empty, and having lost something. Yet we still go back to it time and time again trying to find our lost piece again. Jesus however, when we run to him, we have a fail proof father, who is never going to run dry, never going to leave you helpless, never going to hurt you. Why is it that we continue to run to things that don't last? Persist with Jesus' fail proof love. Not with 'things'

That is why i believe persistence is vital. Sometimes our hearts need a bit of work, they have scarring and a buildup of muck, from all the failed attempts at achieving full satisfaction. Jesus has to chip away for awhile before he actually touches our heart, you feel little chinks of it, here and there, but you have to persist. Every time you feel pain, call out, just like a child to his loving parent, persist to call to him. Our father is quite capable of replacing pain with peace. I know because i have experienced it. It is in the hard times, that the Joy of the father can be felt so passionately, because what sort of 'thing' could bring such a happiness into our life when times are rough? My thoughts are, It'd have to be something pretty big. I haven't found anything other than Jesus that is capable.

So when things are hard, steadfastly persist in Jesus. And in nothing else. Bring your prayers and petitions to him, and he will replace them with peace and with a joy like nothing else. It's something BIG.