Romans 12:12
Scripture: Romans 12:12 (ESV) “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Devotion:
We continue working through Paul’s quickfire applications of the Gospel to the Christian life. In this case he turns his attention to the fact that life isn’t always smooth sailing. Life has its ups and downs. Some days feel like we’re cruising, and other times, we’re being battered by storm after storm. It’s during these tough times that our true spiritual resilience can be tested. And here, in Romans 12:12, Paul gives us a roadmap on how to navigate these times.
First, he tells us to “rejoice in hope.” Now, hope isn’t just wishful thinking. It’s a confident trust that things will ultimately work our for the best, based on the promises God has made. In particular this harkens back to the promise Paul himself wrote in Romans 8:28, that “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” It’s knowing that no matter how dark the night is, the morning is coming. No matter how difficult the current situation is, it is part of God’s good plan for you as a believer. This hope is grounded in the reality of what Jesus has done on the cross, and the future He has secured for us—a future where all things will be made right. We can rejoice even in suffering because our hope is secure!
Next, Paul advises us to “be patient in tribulation.” This I think has more to do with how we wait, than with the actual waiting. Patience in tribulation is about our attitude to the difficulties we face. The world wants to tell us that when you face difficulties it is because God has given up on you, or because you have fallen out of his favour. But that’s not it at all, again if we trust scripture, then we know that Jesus has already taken every punishment on himself for us. There is no further punishment God wants to pour out on us – it’s all done. That means that the difficulties we are going through are all about Him shaping us, molding us and sanctifying us. We can face tribulation without getting sour, when we realise that it is a gift from God to make us holy. That is something the world cannot understand, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
Finally, we are to “be constant in prayer.” This shows us how our relationship with God is built through our prayer lives. It’s about knowing that God hears us, He listens, and He cares. This is true even in our darkest moments. One of the things that struck me most is that when Jesus was on the cross, when the Father turned away from him, he uses the words of Psalm 22, to express his feelings to God in that moment of abandonment.
Being constant in prayer has nothing to do with whether we feel like praying or not…
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the hope we have in Christ, a hope that allows us to rejoice even when the days are tough. Help us to cultivate patience that stands firm in the face of trials, trusting that You are working all things for our good. Keep us devoted to prayer, always seeking Your face and Your will. May our spirits reflect the steadfastness of Jesus, who endured all things with faith and grace. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the day:
Today, focus on one of these three areas: hope, patience, or prayer. Perhaps you need to restore your joy in the hope Jesus offers—spend some time meditating on His promises. Maybe you’re in the midst of a struggle—seek to embrace patience, reflecting on how Jesus endured His trials. Or, if your prayer life has been on the back burner, challenge yourself to set specific times for prayer today. Let’s strive to live out these virtues, holding steady no matter the weather.