“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 ESV
Life is hard. And in the hardest seasons it’s all the more important to have something, and someone to cling to. And yes, it is possible to rejoice during those difficult seasons. That is what I am striving for. Singing in the valley. Praising in the storm.
Romans says to rejoice in hope. Hope is the greek word elpi, which means to have an expectation of good. Things won’t always be this way. God is working. And God has good plans. That can be hard to see at times. And that’s when we remember that our hope is in a person, not circumstances. Jesus is our hope. His faithfulness is our compass. He is quite literally the only rock on which we can hope and stand.
Romans also says to be patient in tribulation. Tribulation in Greek is thlipsi, which means pressure, affliction, or distress. It is easy to panic or want immediate relief from painful situations. I, for one, do not like going through prolonged difficulties. Especially when those difficult bring humiliation, extreme distress, and tremendous pressure. Learning to exercise patience during that requires enormous faith and connection to Jesus. It means holding on to what He says about you and what you know to be true. And ultimately, it leads to the third thing Paul says in the verse.
When Paul says to be constantly in prayer. Does he mean we literally never stop praying? Constant in Greek is hypomen, which means to persevere in, abide in, and to remain in. Tribulations can have the reward of a deeper closeness with Jesus. Because when things don’t let up, the best place to be is close to Jesus. Seeking Him brings beauty to ugly circumstances. Seeking Jesus brings relief to the heaviest of souls.
If you’re going through a dry and weary season, I hope you can find encouragement in these words. May you, find not just comfort but renewal. I pray for your breakthrough, even if circumstances don’t change. Even if the season remains dry, I pray that you can become a well watered tree with fruit springing from your branches. Peace in Christ brothers and sisters. Because He really is the only source of it.
