JOYFUL IN HOPE

By Isabelle Reardon

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”—Romans 12:12 (ESV)

Today’s verse falls amidst a lengthy list of actions that Paul encourages us to walk in. A few things he encourages us to do is to let our love be genuine, to love and honor one another, to bless those who persecute us, and to not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. 

Honestly, when I read Romans 12:12 I’m not encouraged because everything in me doesn’t want to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. Instead, everything in me is prone to complain, is impatient especially when it comes to tribulation, and doesn’t want to be in constant prayer. I’d love to say to Paul, “Come on, who do you think I am? This feels like an impossible to-do list!”

You may be thinking the same thing. And it’s true. It’s hard to do all of these things in our own strength, which has proven to be quite weak and not really strong at all. Jesus doesn’t expect us to conquer a to-do list. Instead, He wants us to receive the gift of hope, patience, and steadfastness in prayer which can only come from abiding in Him.

We’re entirely incapable of doing anything on our own (John 15:5), and Jesus knows this. In 1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) Paul states, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Any good thing we have, and any good that has ever been produced out of us, has never come from our humanness. They have always been the result of the living God at work within us. 

We don’t have to try and conjure up something that looks like rejoicing in hope. We have been freely given hope Himself, and because of this gift we’re able to rejoice. 

Friends, Jesus has given us so much. He’s given us a family, the hope of eternity, and He’s given us Himself. But we do have free will. And as such, we get to choose where we’ll look and what we’ll cling to. The question is: Will we look to ourselves to muster up rejoicing in hope, will we look to our circumstances to satisfy our longing for joyful hope, or will we set aside the things we’ve held onto and take hold of the treasure we’ve been given—the Savior of the world who calls us His beloved and gives us purpose?

Let’s surrender, cling to Jesus, and watch as the gift of His joyful hope arises within us and changes the way we see the world around us.

Pause and Reflect: Why are joy and suffering so often linked together in Scripture? 

Practice: It's been said before that happiness is a feeling, but joy is a choice. So, as an outpouring of the hope of Christ, consider ways you can practice joy today. 

Pray: Hope in the Lord and joy in the Lord are fueled by time with the Lord. As you pray today, thank the Lord for all the things He has given you that cause you to walk in hope and live with joy.