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12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Joyful in hope, yes Lord, I am all in, but patience is not a strong skill of mine, and the idea of being patient in affliction feels heavy on me. When affliction comes, either physical, spiritual or emotional, the last thing I want to do is be patient!
I want to be mad; I want to be upset over the unpleasantness of circumstances; I want to ignore it all until things return to the way I expect them.
I, I, I, I, I!
Enough about me, Jesus, my Lord, and savior let us talk about you. Because when I try to be in charge, I fool myself. I blind myself to the glory of God’s plan, and I sit alone in my swamp of affliction.
This is not the way we should live, oh no! When I am patient in affliction all the “I’s” rot away, the source is YOU. Thank you Jesus! This verse is like a circuit, one flowing and feeding the next no matter where you are on this circuit; without all three components, the power is lost.
Lord, forgive me for the countless times I abandoned you to sit alone in the swamp of affliction to nurse my wounds like a spoiled child. For the times I made it about me and not you. Even in the most difficult times, let me choose joy, be patient, and never abandon my connection to you through prayer. I love you Lord, thank you for the healing power of your Word.
-Amen