PATIENCE - Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. - Romans 12:12.

Another instructive trifecta, supplementing joy with hope and ceaseless prayer with perseverance and calling anew for patience.

Patience, with hope and perseverance, has already been a part of the supplementary verses we have seen.  Remember Peter's vigil at 1 Peter 5:7-8: "And when you have suffered for a little while, ...God ...will ...restore, support, strengthen and establish you."

Remember the faith from Hebrews, reminding us that God is encouraging us to "run with perseverance" (Hebrews 12:1).  We are called to believe that God is at work.

And recall God's reminder at Jeremiah 29:11: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord."  We may not immediately see God's future for us, but God cares about our daily welfare and wants us to have hope.

Another well-known verse comes to mind, from Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me."  We are assured here, in the middle of this journal and journey, that God is with us.

The nature of a journey is that it takes time, and so, even as we are taught that our prayers can move mountains, we have to proceed with patience.  Patience is one of the primary attributes of love at the heart of Paul's beautiful love sermon, at 1 Corinthians 13:8: "Love is patient."  Faith and hope also abide in our prayers, but, according to 1 Corinthians 13:13: "...the greatest of these is love."  Paul also wrote, at 1 Corinthians 13:2: "And if I have faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

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Thank you God, for the promises you have given Josh today and for the strength you have given to Don; for the smile you have given to Parul today and for the grace you have given her family.  Thank you God for everyone close to me —Annie, Mom, Dan —and thank you too for everyday people, most of whose names I do not know, but thank you God for their patience —your patience —and acceptance of a man with measly faith. 

--- Journal archives, 1990

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Jesus Christ is the same,  yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8.

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Dear God, as you heard my prayers in 1990 and you hear them today, thank you for teaching me patience, then and now, and for being the same, yesterday and today and forever. Thank you, too, for helping my unbelief with the power of love and hope.

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