From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
    Let all Israel repeat this:
From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
    but they have never defeated me.
My back is covered with cuts,
    as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
But the Lord is good;
    he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.

May all who hate Jerusalem
    be turned back in shameful defeat.
May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
    turning yellow when only half grown,
ignored by the harvester,
    despised by the binder.
And may those who pass by
    refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you;
    we bless you in the Lord’s name.”

Psalm 129

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Every believer faces challenges on the journey of faith, but even when it feels like an uphill battle, Psalm 129 reminds us of this anchor: But the Lord is good. This Sunday, Pastor Luis Guerrero reminded us that our prayers shouldn't just seek comfort but surrender to God's will. This perspective shift can transform our faith journey, helping us see God's goodness amidst our struggles.

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THE JOURNEY IS LONG, BUT GOD IS NOT ABSENT

• When you bring your requests to God, are you praying from a desire for comfort, ease and increase? Or is your primary goal in prayer for relationship and intimacy?
• Our prayer life and my obedience to God is not a formula for convenience. It’s an act of surrender.
• God’s goal isn’t just to make your life easier or more convenient, to remove every hardship you face. Instead, He desires to make you more like Christ in the face of trials.
• Life with Jesus isn’t about escaping challenges but trusting God through it.
• Even after God saved them from Egypt, the Israelites were still called to walk a long road.
• “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
• “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
• When the Psalmist starts with “Let all Israel repeat,” it’s a call to collective memory. Your journey, though deeply personal, is not unique to you but communal.

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PERSEVERANCE IS MORE ABOUT FORMATION THAN FINISHING

• We are surrounded by culture and content that would have us think that the process can be shortcut or quicker.
• God is not always wanting to fast-track us to a destination but rather form us along the way.
• When we try to rush through the process, we grow anxious, frustrated and discouraged.
• “Perseverance is not the result of our determination; it is the result of God’s faithfulness. We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God sticks with us.” Eugene Peterson
• God is less interested in how fast you get to a goal and more interested in who you are when you arrive.
• “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4
• The Psalmist doesn’t declare arrival but survival and trust in God. Perseverance gives God space to build depth, not just distance.

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BUT THE LORD IS GOOD

• We all need a “But God” moment that shifts our faith.
• An underrated way to lift our eyes to God is through gratitude. It shifts your spirit to truth.
• Gratitude is a weapon against despair, striving, and discouragement.
• “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and…. thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
• The same God who carried you will confront what came against you. The wicked don’t get the last word—God does.

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DINNER PARTY QUESTIONS

• How do you balance faith-filled prayers with surrender to God's will, especially when facing hardships or unanswered prayers?
• How have you seen God form perseverance and character in your life through difficult seasons?
• In what you’re facing right now, how can you cultivate gratitude and a thankfulness that becomes your warfare?

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