Rejoice in hope, be patient in sorrow, be faithful in prayer.
-Romans 12:12
Thoughts on today’s verse…
Sometimes the key to survival is to simply “set your jaw” and move forward, sincerely trusting that despite apparent external circumstances, God is helping us. Choosing joy through hope rather than relying on despair, choosing patient endurance in times of suffering, and choosing faithfulness in prayer when all circumstances are difficult, are all decisions of the will. They show that we have faith that God, who raised Jesus from the dead, can change our circumstances even because He hears our voices and loves us.
From everything it seemed that while Jesus was in the tomb God was silent and had forgotten His Son. Now we know that was not the case at all. We know that our victory over sin, death, the evil one, and hell was taking place during that silence. as we are becoming “Rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering, faithful in prayer.”Let us also be assured that He is working for us even at a time when He seems to be silent and have forsaken us! Yes, we are hopeful, we are patient, and we are faithful.
My prayer…
Oh mighty God, create within us a strong and determined heart so that we may remain happy no matter what difficulties we face. We ask for this resilience, this joyful hope, this patience in difficulties and prayerfulness in difficult times, in the name of Your faithful and victorious Son. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
