Rejoice, be patient and keep on

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:12-13

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Rejoice, be patient and keep on.

The first thought in my mind as I read this passage was how contrary of a reaction or response I'd have especially during times of hardship. How hard it is to "rejoice in hope" when all I see are darkness and struggles before me and ahead of me. How hard it is to be "patient in trouble" when all I want is to be relieved of all suffering and pain. How hard it is to "keep on praying" when it's almost easier to seek tangible answers from people or other resources. 

But what I gathered from this is that it's hard because most of the time we function out of controlling the situation ourselves, our self-sufficiency and our own strength. Rejoicing in our hope, being patient in trouble and praying unceasingly wouldn't have to be so hard if we could learn to surrender all of that to God. Really the hardest part would be the surrendering. Just imagine how much freedom and power there is once we do that. 

There would be such a paradigm shift of how we respond and walk in our times of suffering.

Instead of sitting in despair we are able to rejoice in confident hope because He gives us joy that is unspeakable.

Instead of seeking quick fix answers we are able to be patient in trouble because He is working and going to do something.

Instead of giving up we are able to keep praying because He gives us the strength to endure and He hears us.

We are able because He is able.