“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer”– Romans 12:12
This simple statement, made by the Apostle Paul, came up on a daily devotional I received by email a few weeks ago and I hung onto it in order to turn it over in my mind.
The first part, “Rejoice in hope,” is easy for me. I am often optimistic to the point of naivete. I find that I cling to hope long after more realistic people have moved on.
I am a fervent believer that God wants us to experience joy. Not happiness at achieving a personal goal or acquiring a new possession, but true, unflinching, unquenchable, internal joy, and the source of that joy is hope.
The last part of the statement, “persevere in prayer,” is not difficult for me, either. I have a robust prayer life, especially when I am running. I have had many spirited conversations with God as I trudge through the 20-milers that precede a marathon.
Oh, sure, I need reminders sometimes, everyone does (I think). Sometimes my prayers are halfhearted, offhand, or selfish. Sometimes they are even absent, but then I hear something on the radio or I read something online that makes me diligent once again.
The middle part of the quote, “be patient in suffering,” is the toughest part for me. No one would ever accuse me of being patient, even under the best circumstances.
I hate pain. I am also not fond of suffering. As readers of this blog know, I do not suffer in silence. Whining about a running injury filled my posts for months, until I finally found relief, thanks to a miracle-working orthopedist.
Pain, suffering, and distress are human conditions. None of us escape them. We all bear the scars, both physical and emotional, of living life.
After reading this verse several times, pondering its deeper meaning, it finally hit me: “It’s not an accident all three of these commands are found in the same verse.” Rejoicing in hope and persevering in prayer are the tools we need to be patient in suffering. I may be slow, but I get there eventually.
I should get this framed and hang it up in my room.
*It is my plan to document the arrival of spring here in this corner of Southeastern Pennsylvania through the progression of blooming flowers. This is the fourth picture in the series. The flowers pictured above are Crocus (Crocus vernus). I found these while walking my dog Benji. Situated near a south-facing wall, they are the first yellow ones I have seen this spring.
I am linking with Cee’s FOTD Challenge, Welcome Heart for Let’s Have Coffee, Soaring with Him for Recharge Wednesday, Debbie at Dare 2 Hear, Reflections From Me for A Blogging Good Time, Random-osity for Little Things Thursdays, It’s a Small Town Life for Thankful Thursday, Crystal Storms for Heart Encouragement, Rachel Marie Lee, Knit by God’s Hand for Thankful Thursdays, Just a Second for Scripture and a Snapshot, A Spirit of Simplicity for Selah, and Worth Beyond Rubies.
Please click on the following link to read more funny or inspirational one-liners. One-Liner Wednesday.
I needed this today! I seem to struggle lately with patience. God is working on me, though! Thank you for sharing this.
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Yes, He is working on me too! We are all works in progress.
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Amen to this…
🙂 and good post
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Nice post, Laurie. You have a great attitude of hope and a prayer life that I’m still working on. As for the pain and suffering, I have become somewhat resilient. God lets me whine to a point, with patience, and then gives me a swift kick. I’m learning to not wait for the kick. 🙂
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Thank you, Mary. I’m working on it too! Learning not to wait for the kick is what it is all about! 🙂
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I find myself doing a lot of whining when I pray- but I sincerely try not to do that. Sometimes pain and misery just get on top of me to the point where it’s all I can think about. “Be patient in suffering” I think I will put that one on my fridge so I will see it everyday.
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Yes, I can identify with whining while praying too! 🙂 I pray for patience almost every day.
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Patience is a virtue and sometimes it’s non-existent. I so get this.
Have a fabulous day. ♥
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Thank you, Sandee. You have a wonderful day too!
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Wonderful photos 😀
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Thank you, Cee!
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We could all use a little more patience.
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So true!
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We’re underwater here. https://www.npr.org/2019/03/19/704737942/nebraska-floods-74-cities-65-counties-declare-state-of-emergency?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20190319&fbclid=IwAR0H9I5-qs7Am-tIrLvPBPkswZolAdOa7YtJKMwwXUjYgJp53piTIbUtLCc
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Oh no! I have been hearing about the flooding in Nebraska on NPR. So sorry to hear you are affected.
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That was a nice revelation in the end to bring it all together! I needed that today! You know how you sometimes have ‘one-of-those-days’? Well mine seems to be today. lol. So thank you.
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Oh, I hope tomorrow is a better day for you! I’m glad I could brighten your not-so-good one at least a little bit! 🙂
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I like your interpretation of Romans 12:12. Excellent!
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Thank you, Anne. I had been thinking about that verse for a while!
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It’s good to ponder verses. I don’t do it nearly often enough. I’m glad you did.
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No truer words could be spoken with that verse. And we have handle each section of that verse differently, as some parts are weaker and some are stronger. But if we hang on to all of it, even by the skin of our teeth, we will survive and bloom like spring. Hope you are doing well.
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Good to hear from you, Anita. I am doing well. I hope you are on the road to recovery and that your month is going well too.
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It is. Physical therapy working but really not fun. But at least I don’t walk like a penguin anymore so that is an improvement. I think once it really get warm I should be ready for walks in the park.
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Looking forward to walks in the park myself! 🙂
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A sign of life by Mother Nature is a good reward for all our patience throughout this long, cold Winter. I know I do not have the patience of a saint, nor do I have the patience I had when I was younger and I don’t especially like that trait in myself.
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I was never a patient person, Linda. It’s a trait that I think I get from my mother. She had a heart of gold, but no one would ever have called her a patient person.
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I was more patient in my younger years Laurie, not so much now. I was just telling Shelley that I resistant change more readily as I get older. I have to try to get a new mindset and embrace change more, but it is difficult to do sometimes and I realize I am pretty set in my ways, more so since I have lived alone.
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Laurie, I think many of us can relate to your words here. And honestly, I think we’re all “getting there” right along with you, so you are not alone on this one, Sister! Thanks for sharing! Hugs and blessings to you! 🙂
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Thank you! It’s always wonderful to have good company on the trip! 🙂
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You’re very welcome! And yes, indeed it is! 🙂
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Lovely thoughts and images, as always! It’s nice to see the crocus – we are months away from any flowers at all, so I’m enjoying yours vicariously 🙂
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Thank you! I am vicariously enjoying the azaleas and magnolias posted by bloggers who live in the south!
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Laurie – connecting all three actions is wonderful insight and I am grateful you shared it!
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Thank you, Joanne!
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Hello, I hope you are recovering from your running injury. Hope, joy and patience are thing we all want.
Enjoy your day, have a great weekend ahead.
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Thank you! I am recovering from my injury. I have a race this weekend so I will put it to the test. You have a great weekend too!
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I need a copy of your sign too
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I didn’t realize this was true of so many places in the world.
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…patience is something that I have never had.
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It often eludes me too! 🙂
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We made a booklet of daily Lenten devotionals that has had a nice feel for many to read.
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Oh, that sounds wonderful!
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Very thought provoking. I have learned not to pray for patience, because then I get something that tries that patience!
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Haha! So true. You have to be careful what you ask for! 🙂
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Patience is not at the top of the list of my virtues…I need to work on that! I always love your thoughtful posts and the scriptures you find to include! Well done! Hugs, Diane
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Thank you, Diane. I enjoy your posts too. I always find something that makes me think! 🙂
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In our world of instant gratification, it seems that patience is in short supply. Something for us all to work on. Thanks for linking up today, Laurie.
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Yes, I need to work on patience every day! Thanks for the chance to share.
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Great post Laurie, I love that you have hope far beyond others! What a wonderful gift that is 😀
Blessings,
Jennifer
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Thank you, Jennifer. Hope is something I have in abundance; patience, not so much! 🙂 Blessings to you, too!
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I love your crocus photo – signs of spring warm my heart too! I’ll continue to practice patience until the snow is gone and our spring flowers start to pop through the ground. I’m glad to read you found help for your injury and that you’re off running well again. That must feel awesome!
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Shelley, I get greedy in the spring. I cannot wait to see the first crocus, then, after they bloom, I am done with crocus and cannot wait for the first daffodils, then the first tulips, etc. Running does feel awesome again. Thank you!
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I love how you enjoy the moments of soaking up the things that bring you joy!
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Relate! I love how Biblical truths are interwoven.
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How true! They always seem to show up when we need them most!
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I agree, patience is not something that comes easily. And often it’s something God can only develop in our lives through a period of waiting or struggle.
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I agree. It’s something I have struggled with my whole life.
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Reading through Exodus lately and seeing how, in spite of God’s evident presence and miracles, the children of Israel complained and murmured whenever they faced challenges…I’m ashamed of how much like them I am! Yes, being patient in suffering takes supernatural help!
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Yes, the children of Israel were all too human – just like we all are. Patience is something I pray for every day.
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Patience is one of the virtues I struggle with as well. I like this idea that these three commands go so well together and that joyful hope and perseverance in prayer bookend the command to be patient. I think I needed this today – thank you!
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Oh, Kym, I pray for patience daily. Thank you for your comment! 🙂
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Well figured out! (who says you’re dumb?) 😉 🙂 🙂
IM-patience the needing of getting what you want NOW, or as soon as is inhumanly possible, is a big barrier to Perseverance, (“I’ve been praying for this for AY-JEZ and it STILL hasn’t worked!”) as well as a destroyer of Hope.
Impatience adds to our suffering and decreases our natural ability to cope with it. Our burden increases when we feel like we’ve been bearing it too long already and we start to feel like it is impossible to continue sometimes.
James has this view on our trials and sufferings: “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Paul also expanded on your verse: “3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.
Love your crocuses, such a beautiful colour! 🙂
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Let’s see…do you want me to make a list of people who say I’m dumb? 🙂
You are so right – impatience adds to our suffering. I know this, yet somehow can’t break the habit. It reminds me of Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
I wrote a post one time about Romans 5:3 -4. That suffering –> perseverance –> character –> hope sequence. I love those verses! They make so much sense to me.
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I’ve read Paul in Romans 7 many times – sigh.
If only…. 😉
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