Faith & Persistence
Let me just say I have one of the most loving and caring husbands on the planet. He spoils me rotten. As I began to write my second book he blessed me by sending me to a little fishing cabin out on a lake in Rising Fawn, Georgia for inspiration and time alone. For seven days it was just me, Jesus, and nature.
I was in awe of the perfection and beauty of the place. The cozy little cabin sits at the foothills of a majestic mountain. It was nicely appointed. Its decor was both rustic and luxurious. And a deck attached to the cabin extended out over the water for fishing. It surely provided the perfect place to cast a line in hopes of catching a prize-winning fish.
Before I traveled to this small piece of heaven in Georgia, I decided to look it up online to read the reviews. There were raving reviews about the fishing at the cabin. People boasted of catching Bass, Crappie, Catfish, and Sunfish right from the cabin’s deck. Even though I planned to spend most of my time writing, I decided to throw my fishing pole and tackle box into my Jeep before leaving home.
When I arrived at the cabin I looked down from the deck and saw fish of every size swimming below. So I decided to get up the next morning and try my luck. I awoke to an incredible view of the lake. Low clouds were drifting across the mountaintop, and as I viewed the beauty of nature I was in awe of God’s splendor in His creation. As soon as I had my morning coffee and prayer time I got my fishing tackle and anxiously baited a hook.
I expectantly cast my line out across the lake and waited patiently. Nothing happened— not a nibble, not a bite, nothing. I reeled in my line and cast again. Still nothing. I found myself casting repeatedly to no avail. I changed depth; I changed bait; I changed spots over and over again. I was having no luck at all. So I gave up and went back inside the cabin to write.
But a couple hours later I was drawn outside again by the beauty of the lake and the desire to catch a fish.
I cast again, waited, and still nothing. I continued the process so many times I lost count. However, even though I had no luck catching a fish, something compelled me to continue to cast my fishing line into the water and wait. It seemed that I was not going to catch a single fish.
“Why am I even trying?” I asked myself.
I read the reviews about the cabin. I read stories of the fish so many others had caught before me. And then when I myself came to the water’s edge I witnessed with my own two eyes multitudes of fish swimming in the lake. But I couldn’t catch a fish.
I was discouraged, but I know from experience that sometimes the fish just aren’t biting. And clearly that was one of those times. However, I also knew I had the all the right equipment, so I persisted. I continued to cast and reel hoping for the slightest tug at the end of the fishing line. And finally…I caught the fish in the picture above!
I wonder why it is so hard for us to persist in faith when it comes to spiritual things? We can be so determined in our dogged pursuit of earthly things; but when it comes to persisting in faith until we see God move in our lives and situations, many of us throw in the towel after sending up the first prayer.
Yet we have this assurance from the Bible:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NLT
Why do we find it so hard to pray and believe we will receive what we ask for when God’s Word tells us to persist? We persist at far lesser things without any kind of assurance of receiving results. Let’s remember that our God is a loving Father, and He desires to answer us. But, sometimes He requires more than one little quick prayer. We must be persistent in our praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing!"
*This modified excerpt came from my second book, No Limits: Embracing the Miraculous. Get your copy today!
