Patience is Hard Work

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13 ESV

“If you’re going through hell, keep going!” Winston Churchill

Churchill rallied and encouraged Great Britain through the tragedy and losses of WWII. If there was Hell on Earth, World War II came close. The devastation!  How anyone survived…

Paul gives us specific and encouraging things to do when waiting in turmoil for healing, financial relief, grief softening, rescue, and withdrawal symptoms to ease our pain and fill our hearts.

We don’t just sit there in self-pity. Though the temptation is great and I’ve indulged in it too many times to count, Paul points the way upward. My sister had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and I was constant in prayer but rejoice in hope? That’s where the Holy Spirit prays, comforts and teaches.

The situation may not be what is desired. Some people die. My spouse died from a horrible disease. Some died in war. Some were from accidents and all were prayed over. That’s a personal hell and we must keep going, especially if we trust the Father and His loving character. It’s okay to wrestle over this. Jacob did all night long. Or we may be flat broke and we are still to contribute to the needs of saints. Another wrestling match for sure, but we always have something to give.

Be hospitable. When I was newly widowed I fostered an abandoned dog. Being with others at that time was too challenging. Entertaining others? Forget it! The dinner after the funeral was all I could bear. I was wrestling. The Father gave me one of His creatures to love, feed, and nurture amid grief. It worked! The little guy had a hole in his heart. I did too. I healed. He passed after three years with me but was he happy for those three years! Me too.

Keep going. You may feel like you’re in a water less desert but that is not true. Seek the promises Jesus made: Living Water. Bread of Life. Wine for forgiveness. Ask for prayer. Let someone love you (or in my case an abandoned pup) until your hope is realized. You’re being patient and doing something in hope.

Musings

Patience is difficult for most of us. It helps to focus on what Jesus would have us do. Sometimes it’s seeking help. Sometimes it’s prayer. Sometimes it’s finding knowledge. Sometimes there’s a specific Bible verse for the situation and we memorize it. Sometimes it’s reaching for another. Patience is made much more frustrating if we do nothing and will lead to self-pity.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Patience is needed in most of our situations and how disheartening it can be! But we are to do something while we wait and it always ends up looking up with Jesus’ help. Most of the time, patience educates and strengthens. Why do things that are good for us sometimes are so difficult? Because it’s building character: Jesus’ character.

Thank you for guiding us through patience without retribution or shame. Help us to persevere.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.