These two translations of Rom 12:12 give us instructions in how to be and what to do. Being joyful in hope is easy when situations are going well for us, but hope is one of the lasting qualities which can give fuel to us even when we feel in despair or hopeless. Abraham ‘against all hope’ believed God’s promise that He would give him a son, and in the same way, we learn to rejoice in hope, holding on to every promise God has given us as we wait patiently for its fulfilment.
Being patient in affliction or tribulation is much harder for most of us, who are impatient by nature. Patience and endurance are fruit of the Spirit we desperately need as we work through situations that can be so very difficult to bear. Patience means we refuse to give up; we keep pressing on and persevering, even if things don’t seem to change at all.
Faithfulness or constancy in prayer can also be a challenge for us. Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up (see Luke 18:8), highlighting the very human tendency to give up on prayer if we don’t see the answers we want instantly. We have to learn to keep on praying, even as we go through the same things each day to maintain natural life (getting washed, dressed, preparing and eating food, for example.)
Tonight is the church’s prayer meeting, starting at 7:30 p.m. Come along to pray, to intercede, to rejoice, to give thanks. Nothing is more important than our prayer life with God.
