Patient in affliction

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."


It's funny how one day time seems to just fly by and the next day it seems to pass ever so slowly.
What's up with that?


At some time in our lives we will find ourselves in the midst of a trial or tribulation that tests our patience. It may even test our resolve or our faith. Life's difficulties can be like that. Just because you are a believer does not give you a get out of jail free card. James 1:2-4 has a wonderful explanation of why there are trials in our lives. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,  whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 


I do not pretend to know or understand why things are the way they are in my life, the lives of my family, or the lives of my friends. To borrow are phrase from my son Andy, "It is what it is." The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:12 reminds us that we need to be "patient in affliction". There is a purpose to all of our lives. Our Father in heaven has a plan and a purpose for each and everyone of us. When we try to hurry through the times of affliction we often miss opportunities to draw in all the lessons the Lord would have us learn. Like a fine wine, we need to age and mature. We need to capture all that we need to take in, to learn, and contemplate. We also need to pray for insight into how we can turn our adversity into something that can be shared. My daughter Kate has a favorite expression "Turn your wounds into wisdom." Each of us has experiences that we carry with us. We can bear those experiences as scars. Or we can take the lessons learned, the wisdom imparted on us through prayer, and share with others who may be in the midst of a tribulation. We share because we care. It is an act of love. This we do not out of an desire to earn salvation. We do this because Christ loved us first. He loved us, suffered the affliction of the cross to save all. He modeled love and we emulate His love when we share the wisdom gained through the pain we endured in our times of trial with others. I personally do not enjoy times of trial and affliction. But the best thing I have learned in my life is to not pray for the affliction to pass quickly. What I have learned is to pray for the wisdom I need to be given through this trial to come quickly. And more importantly, to also pray for the vision to see, with the eyes of Jesus, who I need to reach out to in love to share the wisdom I have gained through my time of affliction. That my friends is the "Be faithful in prayer" element of Romans 12:12. Be patient, and prayerful in our lives so that we may become the mature and complete servants of the Lord we are all asked to be. To God be all the glory in all that we do.


PRAYER: Lord, we all experience times of affliction in our lives. We know that Your love for us is boundless. We know that you have a purpose for each of us. And that the suffering we endure is not meaningless nor cruel. We ask that we be given the faith and patience to endure the trials in our lives. We ask the we be given the wisdom You wish to impart upon us and the insight to share that knowledge with others. Guide us Dear Lord to reach out in love, with Your Love. This we ask in the name of Jesus who with the Father and the Holy Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.