Expect Trials

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12:!2

I believe this verse is a great recipe for how all followers of Jesus should respond not only in life, but particularly in difficult times.  Tragedy will always be part of our lives, but how we respond vastly differs.  I mean really, in the midst of unthinkable pain, how can anyone be joyful in hope, patient, or faithful?  The enemy of your soul wants nothing more than to zap you of joy and there is no better time than when you are fighting through a trail.  Be on guard.  Don’t let him harden your heart….run to Jesus.  Remember that we always have hope because Christ is for us.  No matter how much it hurts, the believer has hope that it will work out for the good.  The good of what?  I don’t know, but I trust God and he says he can make good and beauty can come out of ashes.  As followers of Christ this simple exhortation is how we should behave during every season of our life.  Our hope comes from Christ because he alone promised our victory.  We don’t often think of having patience in our pain either.  I know I don’t ask for patience; I want my pain gone NOW!  Why would I ask for patience in affliction?  Because this kind of patience produces perseverance and when you have perseverance you don’t quit easily.  You know it’s going to be a journey, a marathon, a mountain climb, maybe the first step of thousands uphill.  The bible says not only so, but we also glory in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).  So we persevere so God can refine us and we boldly and faithfully pray trusting God will answer our requests.  Prayer brings God’s intervention in His timing and we are more Christ-like because of the journey.  As you continue to persevere, have hope and continually pray, I promise God will show up.  He has too.  He has promised us He will. ~ Amen