Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer ~ Romans 12:12


These words come to us from a section of Paul’s writing and are under a heading called “Love in Action.” When we read his words, they are almost a takeaway from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. They give us the same counter measures of how to relate to others with the love of Jesus so as to overcome evil with good. Love will always do that. When love is in use, evil shrinks back. Being joyful in hope is not to ignore what may be happening, but to look upward and forward through it. It is not to say, “I am happy,” but it is to say, “I know God has a plan and he will help me get through this…and one day it will be better.” It is that one day which helps us to be patient. We know that all things are temporary, and that tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow may make all the difference in the situation; we all know that too well. When we have patience, we wait for God to act, for he is an acting God. Will he change my heart, will he change my circumstance, will I see a new way through him, because of him, and in him? Patience is hard. But living with patience says that God can and will do something better out of something that is bad. We learn in our waiting. Which then leads to being faithful in prayer. We continue to lift our troubles up before him who is the Great Caregiver. Prayer is our conversation before a God who listens and responds to our heart’s cry. He wants relationship with us, he wants conversation with us. He is our friend and our God. He will answer! Be hopeful, patient, and prayerful. He will come and bring you aid.

Pastor Julia

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