Even those with the strongest faith get tired of being strong. Even the longsuffering eventually grow weary of suffering.

You’ve prayed all the prayers, you’ve surrendered your circumstances to God, and now you’re trusting Him to do His part. You fully believe that God will reward your faith in the wait.

So why does everyone else seem to be moving on with their best life while yours feels like it’s on hold? You’ve done your best to wait patiently—but change is nowhere in sight.

This place of threadbare hope is the enemy’s playground. His whispers wedge between the truth you’re clinging to and the circumstances that surround you. “It’s silly to keep hoping,” he whispers. “You’re wasting time. What you’re asking for is too hard. Your time is past. That dream’s not for you. Give it up.”

If you’re tempted to lose heart, let me tell you, you are not alone. God’s Word speaks to this, showing us how to reset our anchor when hope is wearing thin. Here are five truths to remember when you are tempted to lose heart.

There’s always a “but God.” Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (NIV).

But God are two of the strongest words in scripture. They signal His sovereignty over circumstances and the perfection of His timing. God—not the situation—gets the last word. Even when it looks like your prayers have fallen flat, you can trust there’s a but God waiting in the wings.

Trust God’s goodness for you. The psalmist said, “I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13 NLT).

When your strength gives way, remember God’s goodness. No matter the outcome, God’s goodness is for you. No matter how long you wait, God’s goodness is with you. Even if change never comes, God’s goodness will bring life to where you are.

Don’t stop praying. God isn’t surprised by our tendency to lose heart during a long wait. That’s why, in Luke 18:1, Jesus urged his disciples to “pray and never give up” (NLT).

He told them a story about an annoyingly persistent widow who kept seeking justice from an uncaring  judge. That man ignored the widow for as long as he could, but she continued to bother him until he finally gave her what she wanted.

Then Jesus pointed out that God—the Father who loves without failing—is not like that unjust man. God delights in giving justice to His people simply because they ask for it (Luke 18:7).

You can never pray too much to God. He won’t get tired of you. Just keep praying and don’t lose heart.

God is preparing you for eternity. “Never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16–17 NLT).

While none of us wants suffering and we pray it away, God uses it to prepare us for eternity. The apostle Paul went through intense persecution, but he knew God never wastes suffering. He uses it to shape us for an eternity beyond compare.

Let the pain of longing draw you to God, knowing that eternity with Him far surpasses any pain you will experience here.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. It’s easy to lose heart when you hyperfocus on circumstances and people around you. The thing is, you’re not running their race; you’re running yours. And you have no idea what God has ahead for you in your lane.

Hebrews 12:1–3 says to run with endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus. Otherwise, you’ll grow weary and lose heart. Cling to Jesus when you’ve waited long past your own timeline for change. He doesn’t just give hope. He is hope.

No matter what you’re wrestling with, struggling against, wading through, or waiting for, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 NLT).

LISA APPELO is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who inspires women to deepen their faith in the midst of grief and find hope in the hard. Formerly a litigating attorney, her days are now filled with parenting seven children, ministering, writing, speaking, and running enough to justify lots of dark chocolate. Find encouragement for faith, grief, and hope at LisaAppelo.com.