"Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer."
How many times does rejoicing feel like the farthest thing we want to do? The days can be hard, long, exhausting, and even full of disappointments. Then bigger trials are added to those days and depression seems more likely than joy. How do we rejoice? Paul says we do so in hope. When we spend our time looking around us, or even focused on our own navel, it's amazing how quickly we can lose our joy. We are called to look beyond what we think we see, to true reality...who we are in Christ, what we are becoming, and the salvation that awaits us for all eternity! Romans 5:1-5 says it beautifully:
"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that afflictions produce endurance, endurance produces prove character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
With this hope as the firm and secure anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19), we are able to bear up and be patient under affliction and trials. We don't see those difficulties as a waste, a mistake, or even as unfair. We see them coming from our Heavenly Father who loves us and desires to grow beautiful fruit in our lives to the praise of His glory. We are able to patiently endure, through the Holy Spirit, because we know He has ordained our days and will complete the work He has begun in us (Phil. 1:6). We are not a craft project that God started but gave up on and shoved into a closet. We are His workmanship created for good works that He's already prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). He bids us to find refuge in the shadow of His wings and reminds us:
"Do not fear; for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Rejoicing in hope and being patient in affliction are only possible if we are persistent in prayer. It only comes as we daily come before the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). It only comes as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). It only comes when we truly echo with Peter that there is no where else we would rather go and no one else that we'd rather be with but Jesus because only He has the words of life (John 6:68). Prayer is not a once a day activity or a mealtime ritual. It's a disposition of the heart that acknowledges the Lord in all our ways, seeks to glorify Him no matter what we are doing, and gives thanks in all circumstances because apart from Him there is nothing.
"For from Him, and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
Romans 12:12 is a very short verse...but it casts a wide vision of what it means to live as children of the King! Our lives must be marked by joyful hope, patience in the midst of problems and prayerful dependence. We may not be able to help the eyesight we have, and glasses or contacts may be the normal mode of operation for many of us. But I do pray that, as followers of Christ, we can joyfully exclaim that our spiritual vision is 12/12 and we wouldn't have it any other way!
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