let your steadfast love comfort me
according to the promise of your servant.
let your mercy come to me, that i may live;
for your law is my delight.
[psalm 119:76-77]
 
sometimes God delivers us out of our circumstances, and sometimes he delivers us within our circumstances.
either way, one of the best things God gives us is his steadfast love. our flesh is not steadfast in of itself, yet He lends us His steadfastness as we depend on Him.
likewise, God is love and we cannot understand love without him. “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (john 15:13) yet Christ died for us while we were still enemies!
steadfast love is perfectly shown at the cross. Jesus prayed under such duress at gethsemane that he even sweat in beads like drops of blood (luke 22:44). Jesus asked that the Father would remove the cup of the cross if He was willing; He was denied so that we will not. likewise on the cross, Jesus was forsaken so that we will never be.
steadfast God, teach us to depend on You for your steadfast love. remind us today that you suffered in every way that we will, and your strength can get us through it all. and Lord, use our suffering to lead us into steadfast pursuit of You and others.
 
~stephen hall