During my prayer and reading time this morning I was drawn back to a verse I read last week and never fully internalized. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
There is a lot to think about in this one verse. We could focus on the importance of all those who have gone before us and the wisdom they left behind and how that can help us. We could also think about the teaching aspect of scripture.
But my focus today is on our part in the process of having hope. The apostle Paul (author of Romans) tells us that scripture has been written to instruct us on how we should live. It is also filled with insight into the nature and character of God. But also in this verse, we see Paul telling us that we must have endurance.
What I take from this verse is that life is not always going to be easy. Things aren’t always going to happen on my time schedule. But I must endure – I must carry on and never give up!
Instead, in the process of enduring we are to look to scripture for guidance and encouragement for there in we will find hope. Jeremiah 29:11 always gives me encouragement – especially during times I am having to “endure.”
No matter what you may be going through today, hang on – endure – and look to scripture for your hope.
What scriptures do you turn to?
Clay in the Hands 
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