Clay in the Hands

I looked back in the posts and unless I missed something, the last time I mentioned the book of Romans was a little less than a month ago (March 11).  As I said there, I had been camped in the 12th chapter for a month.  Well, now it has been almost two months and I am still in Romans 12.  It is an amazing book and chapter 12 is an amazing chapter!  I still hold it to be the Christian Manifesto.

Today, I have been challenged deep within my being by verse 12 of chapter 12.  The verse is short but comprehensive.  It says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  That’s it – that’s the whole verse.  But what power in those words.

Paul tells us that our hope should bring us joy.  When we find ourselves in troublesome situations, we need only remember the bigger picture – that the God of the universe is in control – and that gives us hope.  As long as we have that hope, we can have joy, even in times of difficulty.

He goes on to say that we should be patient in the midst of affliction.  Paul gives it to us straight – there will be trouble.  Just because I made a commitment to be a follower of Jesus did not mean that I would no longer have to deal with pain, heartache and difficulty.  Paul does not want us to be naive about the fact that we will encounter hardships.  But he tells us to be patient – remembering the hope joyfully.

And then he gives us the answer as to how we do this – to be “faithful in prayer.”  It is in and through prayer that our relationship with the Father is grown and deepened.  It is in and through this relationship that trust develops and as we trust, our hope begins to grow and with that hope – joy.

If you find yourself in difficulty today, pray and as you pray, remember that the God who created you is listening – God is in control and has a plan.

You can take comfort and hope in that fact!