THE TOUCH OF PERSISTENCE

In the encounter between the rock and the stream, the stream prevails; not by brute strength, but through patience and persistence.

  

Life is a daily prayer
Every desperate need a constant struggle
A wrestling match with our Creator
Until we prevail in our endeavor.

Jacob wrestled with God
A daring attempt no one could fathom
Dusk to dawn the supplanter hangs on
No mere mortal has yet ever won.

A colossal battle rages on
A great struggle of epic proportion
Fight for survival , a will to press on
As man attempts to get God's attention.

If God is like a rock
We ought to be a stream
Who can move a rock ?
Let alone a mountain.

But God has a weak spot
To a warrior who dares to find out
A heart that never gives up
Faith that never gives in , never gives out.

As the stream assaults the rock
With extreme passion never hold back
Cold or hot it rushes ; eroding , pressing
Feeling for a soft spot or a slight crack.

As the stream gains momentum
Carving its way through the mountain
Undeterred, confident, expands its dimension
Even a boulder succumbs to its intention.

Like Jacob the stream prevails
Over the towering rock it triumphs
It wins not by brute strength
The rock moves through its persistence.

In our journey we became complacent
Following the path of least resistance
Godly intention without supplication
Retards impact promotes stagnation.

The rock will stand ; unmoved , unaffected
When our zeal lacks glow, we passively flow
We prepare not and purify not
We plead not and persevere not.

Prayer and faith are like that
We ask but never receive
If we're lukewarm in our touch
Casual and labile in our trust.

That's the power of persistence!
Is likened to a raging sea an untamed stream
Exerts tremendous surge and pressure
In its wake lies the great grand canyon.

God in His awesome wonder
Mighty as a rock has a soft tender spot
You touch His heart, You move His hand
No mountain no problem , could ever stand !

by NeiL ArandA 09/28/2013

Author's Note

There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence over it, for there is nothing so effectual for which it can't be changed.

Very few in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice. We learned how docile and quiet water is, by attrition over the years will grind strong rocks away. It’s a fairly common observation that soft water can wear away hard rock in and over time by its continuous flow and perseverance. Likewise with a fervent prayer of the afflicted and downtrodden .

And miracles always happen when we persist and persevere and find our place at His feet and touch His heart . It only take but one single touch that could change everything in our life...

Reviews

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Excellent, Neil! An excellent analogy of stream and rock...of soft and hard...of weak and strong.
Indeed perseverance is an exemplary armor of man...it is a blessing from God if you have it.

Thanks to your note. It's helpful and gives more reflection about who we are as characters in this world.
Again, this is excellent. I admire you in your wonderful pieces, Neil. Thanks for sharing this.

[NeiL ArandA]

I missed this one. Prayer should not be influence by our need to reach out out to Him . But rather by our relationship with Him. There's a little difference . God does not only listen and answer your prayer . He answers you!

[NeiL ArandA]

I have always love this song Dhaye. If He did it when He once walked in our midst. He can and still willing to reach out to us. Are we reaching out to Him ? The woman with an issue with bleeding touched Him in a special, powerful and mighty way that power automatically flow out from Him because of her faith and persistence.

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

................ :)

[Troy Henson]

This was brilliant. So much meaning and emotion within.

[H. R. Dwyer]

Prayer and faith are like that
We ask but never receive
If we're lukewarm in our touch
Casual and labile in our trust.

- l liked these lines

[gabrielle]

It's been awhile since you've written (published) a spiritual piece and this one is impressive both in form and in substance. The most amazing stalactites and stalagmites were formed by minerals from water dripping in dark caves in a span of hundreds of years. This goes to show that persistence can build and move secular and non-secular relationships.

[Sami Khalil]

"Life is a daily prayer
Every desperate need a constant struggle
A wrestling match with our Creator
Until we prevail in our endeavor."

An awesome poem and song...Touching to the cores...:)...............

[John Anderson]

This is a beautifully expressed poem with depth. Nice work.

[Aethereal]

Our world is ruled by Persistency. Gravity, energy, time, probability, and the Evolution of Consciousness are within this Persistency. Eternally persistent Consciousness personifies everything into an Eternal Entity inclusive of us all. Reality is conscious of itself, and Consciousness shapes Reality.

[A. Amos]

God in His awesome wonder
Mighty as a rock has a soft tender spot
You touch His heart, You move His hand
No mountain no problem , could ever stand !

Such a powerful and amazing words only you can write my friend, truly need to read such strong words to keep moving in life...admire your work my friend! Epic...

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks AA for your timely visit. I'm glad you like the wordings of the piece. I rekindled this piece when I found the song " One Touch " by Nicole Mullen . It brought a whole new meaning and significance in my heart and soul ... I appreciate your brotherly visit ...

[A. Amos]

You're most and always welcome!

[A. Amos]

Read one more time today...simply powerful!

[Sami Khalil]

"When our zeal lacks glow, we passively flow
We prepare not and purify not
We plead not and persevere not."

A wondrous message of faith. I like universal writes like this one...Excellent...:)....................

[NeiL ArandA]

Thank you brother Sami for your never failing and never ending kindness and friendship. I'm humbled by your presence on this piece.

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure. Any time...:)...................

[Lydia Shutter]

What a beautiful message your words hold in this one....spiritually inspired and uniquely clever. Indeed, the soft water becomes the master over the rock after years of wearing it down....softness overcoming hardness! Great work, Neil. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a lot about faith here...faith can move mountains, God is a rock, but i think he wants us not to be complacent, he wants us to move him...and he us...the meek shall inherit the earth, but they must earn it.

a well constructed write.

[NeiL ArandA]

You said it right Jacob. I thought about how faith and prayer can connect and influence God's heart. Are they exceptional prayer and faith that somehow could touch and affect God's heart that would cause Him to move on someone's behalf ? Thanks Jacob for checking this out ...