One of my favourite words in the Bible is steadfastness. 

Here is one of Paul’s prayers where he uses it. “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Isn’t that awesome? I think it’s one of the most neglected prayer verses in the Bible.

There is a certain girth to the idea of steadfastness. It is the opposite of being flimsy or fickle. It is a God-rooted perseverance through doubts, opposition and the storms of life, and it is patterned on the example of Jesus.

David Mathis says: “Steadfastness isn’t a virtue that shines in comfort but in conflict, afflictions and uncertainty.”*

Anyone can seem immovable when nothing is threatening your spiritual centre of gravity. But then conflict happens. Affliction happens. Uncertainty happens. Sometimes separately, sometimes at once.

In and through it all, we strive to be steadfast. God-rooted and persevering through doubts, opposition and the storms of life.

But we can’t do it alone. Why not take a moment right now to pray Paul’s prayer for yourself, inviting God to do his work.

“Lord, direct my heart to your love, and to the steadfastness of Christ…”

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Notes:

–Quoted in a “Desiring God” Instagram post (@desiringgod) dated July 21, 2022.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.