I still believe

A scene from a famous movie, "Papillon", has the lead character floating in the middle of a sea after having escaped from a notorious prison.

As he looks upward from his raft, he shouts, "I'm still here!"

Many times of solitary confinement in prison didn't break him.

The days at sea had not yet broken him.

He was still alive and free.

If we're honest, many of us struggle to still believe that things will change for the better in our lives.

We've waited so long.

Sometimes we may think and say,

How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,

With grief in my heart all the day?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:1-2

In the face of negative circumstances, we can choose to think and say,

"Lord, I still believe You. You will find faith on the earth in me."

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge said; now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:6-8

As the psalmist later wrote,

But I have trusted in Your faithfulness;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,

Because He has looked after me. Psalm 13:5-6

In the New Testament of the Bible, there are some encouraging words about endurance [patience] to also help us to still believe --

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Yes, when we grow weary, we can say these Scriptures to ourselves to lift us to not faint so we receive His good harvest. Galatians 6:9

We can also look heavenward and say, "Father, I'm still here. Thank You for loving me, comforting me, guiding me, and helping me. I couldn't make it without You. And I have You through the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

Your thoughts?

R. Jason