Steadfast

This is a word I didn't think I would come to so quickly, especially considering that I have been going through a season of learning who I am in Christ and what it looks like to walk in obedience. And here's a little tid bit about me. When I start learning I never want to stop. I want to soak in all the knowledge. That's the nerd talking.

But that isn't how God designed us to walk in community, is it? Nope. It is a balance of soaking up knowledge and then pouring it out. So, upon reflection it makes a lot of sense. Before this long trial I wasn't really in a learning relationship with Christ. I was floating along as the girl who had the great family and with her future wrapped in shiny paper with a pretty bow on top. Sounds nice, right? It was, but I was completely unaware of how jealously Christ was trying to get my attention...but that is for another day.

Steadfast....where do I even begin. Psalm 57:7" My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!" Psalm 119:5 "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!" 2 Thessalonians 3:5" May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ." I think that's a pretty good beginning. The Lord is always with us. When He is teaching us continually and when it feels like He is silent. I think the silence of His voice gives us opportunities to find His love in different places. After all "His mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). When He isn't speaking to me as loudly or clearly I begin to see Him in the fall trees, a cloudless night lit with thousands of stars, the joy of being with friends, the rest of cooking...get it?

This steadfastness, of course, is a two way street. Except for the fact that one way is never failing and constant and the other is totally ADD and fails all the time. However....the case still stands. It is against our nature as humans in this culture to remain steadfast when something isn't giving us the results we want. We need instant gratification. And PRAISE THE LORD ON HIGH that He is not a God of instant gratification. For me, this steadfastness required on my part to stay in His word and go to Him in prayer even when I get nothing in return is a trial. A trial of how much work I was willing to put into this relationship. The answer: a lot. I crave communion with my Father. I need it to get through the day. And even if I am not learning, I am with Him.

 I think of Paul when I think of steadfast. Go through the New Testament books that He is written and count how many of them start out with "Hey guys, I'm in jail and decided to check up on you and encourage you...." It is a lot, I can tell you that. How in the world could Paul, in jail, remain so closely knit to those he had sought out? I think Paul is a beautiful picture of the Lord's steadfast nature. He seeks us out. Sometimes Paul had to rebuke a church that had fallen away from the statutes of the Lord. Sometimes he encouraged them to keep up the good work. Sometimes he challenged them. Sound familiar?

He is constant even when we falter. Praise the Lord.