Day 17: Joyful In Hope

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 

Romans 12:12

As you read this, I wonder if you're already beginning to find it difficult to resist the urge to give in. I am assuming some of you have chosen to give up some personal needs or wants during this time or maybe you're going through a difficult situation. 

Paul here exhorts us with three instructions as we train our hearts, minds and bodies to respond. 

For the future - 'Be joyful in hope'. Hope can very often be accompanied by anxiety, unless underpinned by Faith. We don't have to 'cross our fingers' as we hope, but with our fingers take hold of the Cross and His finished work in Faith. Joy should naturally arise because our hope is now certain. 

For the present - 'Patient in affliction'. Just a few chapters earlier, in Romans 8:18, Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. This means the promise of the certainty of our future shapes our perspective of our present. This in no way undermines the genuine pain and suffering we go through, but rather, gives us the strength to endure and the courage to persevere. 

For the present continuous - 'faithful in prayer'. Developing and maintaining this perspective is only possible through earnest and constant prayer. This is our communication link with our Father, helped by The Holy Spirit who Himself intercedes for us in accordance with God's will (Romans 8:26,27). 

Friends, let us therefore focus our expectation on our eternal hope with joy, and wait with patience in the present, while continuing in earnest and faithful prayer while we wait. 

Sujit Nayak