God is faithful is another way of saying that God never quits. He perseveres until he completes the work he has begun:

…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6b)

Our perseverance does not depend on our strength. God is able to make us stand:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (II Corinthians 1:21-22)

When we practice perseverance and make this trait part of our character, we are imitating the character of God. We become more like Jesus through God’s discipline:

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)

Life situations and circumstances can become so difficult that we feel overwhelmed. We are tempted to look for an easier route instead of doing the right thing based on God’s character and biblical instruction. Sometimes we are tempted to think God has forgotten us. Instead, we need to remember that God is using these difficulties as discipline for the purpose of completing his work in us.

The prophet Jeremiah described the devastation of his homeland, Israel, in his time. He said, "How deserted is the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she….Bitterly she weeps at night…." (Lamentations 1:1-2) He describes his own grief, "He has filled me with bitter herbs and sated me with gall." (Lamentations 3:15) He stated his disappointment with the pain God was allowing, "So I say, 'My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.'"

Then he recalls the character of the Almighty God:

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:21-26)

Our job is to remember that God is just, merciful, and righteous. We wait and trust him because he is trustworthy. We don’t give up because we can know he has not given up. He will not abandon his own children. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."---Jesus (John 14:18)

By Scarlett Stough

Editor's Note: The beautiful artwork was provided by Magdalena Schotten. More of her artwork can be seen at www.hausgemeindetreff.de/