REJOICING IN HOPE

“REJOICING IN HOPE, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” – Romans 12:12

True Believers in Christ possess the supernatural Grace of REJOICING IN HOPE: “REJOICING IN HOPE, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Rom.12:12). The New International Version says, “BE JOYFUL in HOPE, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Rearranging the verse gives this interesting insight: Pray faithfully to increase the joyful hope and patience that you have in Christ. Prayer will lead to patience and joy, even in the face of afflictions or trials.

In this scripture passage, Paul exhorts Christians to love others sincerely and be kind. As we seek to love others and serve the Lord, we will have to mind our attitudes and dispositions, especially the need to be Joyful in Hope. Life, even in the best of times, is not without a fair share of trials. What should set the Christian apart is the JOY that is demonstrated, despite trials or afflictions. The Power for Joy, Hope, Patience, and Faithfulness comes from the Holy Spirit and the revelation knowledge of God’s Word. The four simple Instructions in our Meditation Verse are: Be Hopeful, Joyful, Patient, and Faithful.

Be Hopeful in God: “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa.40:31). We cannot hope in just anything, because it can be very devastating when such hope is crushed or disappointed. But those who hope in God and His promises will have an unlimited supply of Hope and have their strength renewed to forge ahead into a promising future. In His Word, God calls us to steady tenacity, sticking at it, persevering over the long haul. This great, glorious, and eternal Hope that is ours in Jesus Christ, is located, not in this world, but in the new world, into which Christ will bring us at His Second Coming.

Be Joyful in Hope: Joy is part of the Believers birth-right as God’s children. Those who have taken the light burden and easy yoke of Christ will be able to be joyful even in the most difficult of trials (Mt.11:30). To cultivate faith is to cultivate joy.

Be Patient in Tribulation: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jh.16:33). “Tribulation” means to be crushed, pressed, squeezed, stressed, burdened, or troubled. If our hope is in this world, then when our life in this world is crushed, our hope will be crushed with us. But when our hope is in another world, we will have the capacity to endure tribulation with patience. Rejoicing in hope makes it possible for us to be patient in affliction. Our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles never shied away from facing challenges. Times of troubles are the best opportunities to learn patience, which is the fruit of the Spirit and of abiding in Christ. Being tested in the “furnace of affliction” refines and reforms us into the image of Christ (Isa 48:10).

Be Faithful in Prayer: God is faithful. His nature never changes. His promises never fail. His calls us to walk in faithfulness towards Him and to “pray without ceasing” (1The. 5:17). There is more here than praying once in a while when we feel the need. We must learn to be constant in prayer, making it the habit and pattern of our lives. The more we believe that God is merciful, the more we will be drawn to come to Him in prayer. We have a merciful High Priest, Jesus, and the Son of God. He knows what it is to suffer. He is able to sympathize with us because He has been through it Himself. Prayer is our great calling and privilege as we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). If we are faithful in prayer, we will encounter unmatched Patience, Joy, and Hope in Christ.