psalm 118:24! i will pray for those in need
"How do you maintain your faith during difficult seasons?"
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The violent "take the kingdom by force", forcefully believing against all odds.
Paul said it best when he said "this one thing I do".
Philippians 3:
12Not that I have already [g]grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that [h]for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul said it best when he said "this one thing I do".
Philippians 3:
12Not that I have already [g]grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that [h]for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Luke 16:16New American Standard Bible
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John came; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John came; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
"But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. "
It’s easy to stand firm when everything is going well. It’s truly wonderful to hear and learn about the Word (Christ) from our parents, church, Bible study, or even a friend—someone we can talk to and pray with when times get tough. We need to learn about salvation, faith, being caught up, and Christ’s return. It’s essential to get His Word deep into our hearts.
We know that if we repeat a lie long enough, it can start to feel like the truth. But if we keep reading, studying, and speaking His Word, it will settle into our hearts. I remember our choir director, Rick (I love music!), telling us when we were young, “Even if it’s just one verse, read the Bible every day.”
For me, I don’t wonder or guess. Those doubts try to creep in, but I stand firm on what my Father, my God, and my Savior have said in His Word. It’s not a maybe or a hope—it’s what He promised He will do, no ifs, no ands, no buts. In the darkest moments, like the song “I Can’t Live Without You,” I am unmoved by anything else. I rejoice and praise Him—even if I feel sad or cry, I still praise Him. That joy, peace, and strength He promised always come.
There is a story but the first song I sang in Church was "Its my desire" to be like Jesus. Point is .. I can know that word inside and out.. I know the Greek/Hebrew/Ancient Greek yet still a baby in Christ. Take Isa 41:10 ""So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand ". Its a promise to us. Its not a hope a maybe its for us today. Faith .. we have to have faith which is the only way to please Him. So I stand on His word no matter what it looks likes sounds like feels like. Lol had a really good friend that said "your like this because you listen to that (group)". I can see how he might see this yet I showed him by bible my parents gave me. Since HE found me I circled so many verses they just popped out. I got what I believe.. this faith from Him not some man. To Him all the glory and praise.. never me
True faith is not easy.. True faith is to drink the cup (no matter how difficult) God put in front of you.
I don't think God requires that we like it, but nonetheless we surrender to it. Jesus even prayed to the father at Gethsemani. God never puts you in a position where worse than he went through himself.
At the end of the day it's all perspective, Look at the life of Horatio Spafford.. a modern day job and he suffered and still kept faith.
Or Corrie Ten Boom.
I don't think God requires that we like it, but nonetheless we surrender to it. Jesus even prayed to the father at Gethsemani. God never puts you in a position where worse than he went through himself.
At the end of the day it's all perspective, Look at the life of Horatio Spafford.. a modern day job and he suffered and still kept faith.
Or Corrie Ten Boom.
it's a balance, we still need to be diligent. There was a time I prayed and prayed, but did nothing. That doesn't work either. True faith requires action.
Psalm 27 — King James Version
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice:
have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me;
put not thy servant away in anger:
thou hast been my help; leave me not,
neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord,
and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:
for false witnesses are risen up against me,
and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the Lord.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice:
have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me;
put not thy servant away in anger:
thou hast been my help; leave me not,
neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord,
and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:
for false witnesses are risen up against me,
and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the Lord.
Here is a Hebrew exegesis of Psalm 27:13 from the original text.
Hebrew Text (Masoretic)
לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת בְּטוּב־יְהוָה בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים
Transliteration:
Lule he’emanti lirot b’tuv-Adonai b’eretz chayyim.
Word-by-Word Exegesis
1. לוּלֵא (lule) — “Unless / If not”
The sentence is intentionally left unfinished — a Hebrew rhetorical style showing emotional intensity.
Meaning:
2. הֶאֱמַנְתִּי (he’emanti) — “I believed / trusted”
Root: אמן (’aman)
Not merely intellectual belief — it is relational trust.
David is saying:
Root: ראה (ra’ah)
Meaning goes beyond physical sight.
In Hebrew thought it often means:
4. בְּטוּב־יְהוָה (b’tuv YHWH) — “the goodness of the LORD”
טוּב (tov)
Means:
This includes:
Literal meaning:
This present earthly life, not heaven.
It contrasts with:
The Unfinished Sentence (Key Hebrew Insight)
This is the most important feature.
The verse literally reads:
Why?
Because the implied ending is:
It conveys:
Faith was the only thing keeping David alive internally.
Theological Meaning in Hebrew Context
This verse teaches:
1. Faith sustains life during crisis
David is likely in danger, exile, or persecution.
His survival depended on trust.
2. God’s goodness is expected NOW, not only in eternity
This is very important.
Hebrew theology here emphasizes:
The structure implies:
Without belief → despair
With belief → endurance
Literal Expanded Translation (closest to Hebrew sense)
Deep Spiritual Insight
In Hebrew thought, this verse is about:
Hope that prevents psychological collapse.
It is one of the strongest biblical statements that:
Expectation of God’s goodness keeps a person from losing heart.
Hebrew Text (Masoretic)לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת בְּטוּב־יְהוָה בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים
Transliteration:
Lule he’emanti lirot b’tuv-Adonai b’eretz chayyim.
Word-by-Word Exegesis1. לוּלֵא (lule) — “Unless / If not”
- A strong conditional particle.
- Often introduces an unspoken consequence.
- Implies: “If this were not true… something terrible would have happened.”
The sentence is intentionally left unfinished — a Hebrew rhetorical style showing emotional intensity.Meaning:
“If I had not believed… I would have collapsed, despaired, or perished.”
(Some English versions add “I would have fainted” to complete the implied thought.)2. הֶאֱמַנְתִּי (he’emanti) — “I believed / trusted”
Root: אמן (’aman)
- Same root as Amen.
- Means:
- To trust firmly
- To rely upon
- To stand secure
Not merely intellectual belief — it is relational trust.David is saying:
“I firmly anchored myself in trust.”
3. לִרְאוֹת (lirot) — “to see”Root: ראה (ra’ah)
Meaning goes beyond physical sight.
In Hebrew thought it often means:
- To experience
- To encounter
- To witness personally
4. בְּטוּב־יְהוָה (b’tuv YHWH) — “the goodness of the LORD”
טוּב (tov)
Means:
- Goodness
- Favor
- Beauty
- Prosperity
- Kindness
This includes:
- Deliverance
- Protection
- Blessing
- Restoration
Literal meaning:
- אֶרֶץ = land / earth
- חַיִּים = life
This present earthly life, not heaven.It contrasts with:
- Sheol (realm of the dead)
- Despair or destruction
“I expect to see God’s goodness here, while I am still alive.”
The Unfinished Sentence (Key Hebrew Insight)This is the most important feature.
The verse literally reads:
“Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living…”
And then it stops.Why?
Because the implied ending is:
- “I would have despaired”
- “I would have perished”
- “I would have lost heart”
It conveys:
Faith was the only thing keeping David alive internally. Theological Meaning in Hebrew ContextThis verse teaches:
1. Faith sustains life during crisis
David is likely in danger, exile, or persecution.
His survival depended on trust.
2. God’s goodness is expected NOW, not only in eternity
This is very important.
Hebrew theology here emphasizes:
- Real-world deliverance
- Visible intervention
- Tangible blessings
The structure implies:
Without belief → despair
With belief → endurance
Literal Expanded Translation (closest to Hebrew sense)“Had I not firmly trusted that I would personally experience the LORD’s goodness while still alive on this earth…”
Deep Spiritual InsightIn Hebrew thought, this verse is about:
Hope that prevents psychological collapse.
It is one of the strongest biblical statements that:
Expectation of God’s goodness keeps a person from losing heart.holy heavens! not proper! i hope all the leaders of the people of those countries learn quickly to lead a Godly government & steer them to the Lord. long ago, people settled in areas where there was no water & no food.
It seems to me that God sometimes allows us to reach a point that forces us to cling to Him. We desperately seek an answer and reach the point that we finally understand that He is our only help.
He knows our frame. How we wander and seek answers in the wrong place, how we stray and begin to place our trust in ourselves and the world around us. This is often the method used to make us grow in faith, place our trust in Him only, rely on His truths and promises.
He does not always answer in the way that we ask, but He will always provided a way out and we grow closer in the process!
John 16:33
for some people, it's only when they reach their lowest point they realize they need Jesus.
Thank for sharing this uplifting and encouraging passage! Always a great reminder, wait on the Lord.
Unfortunately that is true. I have unbelievers on both sides of my family. Some of them were brought up in church yet they claim now to be atheists. They refuse to hear the Gospel. All I can do is pray for them.
I just remember that God is in control. I have to do my part but ultimately it is His will that will come to pass, not mine. What's going to be is going to be but it's always to my growth. I may not always see it that way and I rarely understand why things happen and they do but if God loves me, and in believe he does, then he isn't out to hurt me even though sometimes it does hurt. It's the unknown that scares us not because we can't handle it but because we're not in control. Surrender control and things get better. It's going to be the way God intended anyway
Yes, we think of an animal in a trap. They don't understand a human trying to help them, all they know are they are afraid and in pain. Once they are free they will feel better. God sees the beginning and the end. These storms in life are frightening but He has not let me down yet.
The sad part is some people come to believe He has let them down.
so true, probably ever Christian deals with that.
God loves everyone the same, even though it might not seem as so, going through Adversities too!
I personally, have just not given up, how! Only by God's mercy, nothing of my own. I decided at a young age to not let go in trust to God
And I have been through a lot. Family death's first youngest sister, I was age 14, she was 18 died on an overdose of heroin.
My Dad three to four years later at age 63, I was 17, Joined service, at 18 got married month prior to entering, she had a kid, turned out not to be mine biologically. Got an annulment.. I was a mess. Still am, just a new view given me to see from Father's view Romans 12:2. through the done work of Son. to learn this truth fully., Still in process.
Then my eldest brother John died, he was 31, I was 21
There was no physical cause found. He volunteered on Campus Crusade for Christ. found passed away there. They did more than one Autopsy. They found no physical cause of death. That was in 1978
I had to go there to get his belongings. I met up with Bill bright the manager there then and others. They told me about the Autopsy, and wanted to do more of them. Permission was granted to them. They put on my brothers death certificate no physical cause of death found
I have been convinced of Jesus Christ's resurrection ever since and stand in trust to Father to learn and continue to learn in Love mercy and truth from Father while here in this world of troubles, we all go through.
Then, A tire machine at work, explodes in my face and I some how got it off of my face, busted my hands, my jaw and teeth knocked out. in 1978 about two to three months after my brother John's death
I was told, if I had not got it off my face fast enough as did, I would have been decapitated. I stood in trust to God, even through that trouble. I still continue to tell others of God's love and mercy for us all. Then got shot, stabbed, lung punctured, and air in my chest that the hospital stuck a giant needle in to let that escaped air out
And still lived.
I can't quit being available to God to be used by God to tell others of God's love and mercy for all.
Then in 2012, I ended up with Foreigners GangGreen and got amputations inside of me and outside as well
This gangreen was from a urinary tract infection. I died seven times per the doctors and revived by them 7 times.
Then I was not to live past a year after making though the first round of surgeries to safe me.
I was back in a year and considered dead again. yet I made it and am here to tell everyone God just loves us all y'all. Stand in that no matter what troubles happened to you, whether deserve it or not.
Yes God loves us all, otherwise that cross would not have ever happened at all
Decide and stand through any and all troubles in trust to God just loves you too, thank you
trust, has no way of knowing how, just knows from within God will get you through it. Exercise trust, thank you
back in august of 2024, my younger brother used a rope to hang himself. i witnessed the Lord Jesus to him for 41 years & he wouldn't accept salvation. you don't have to feel sorry for me, nobody liked the guy, not anyone in the family either.