My favorite verse is Romans 12:12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans was written by Paul the Apostle and he wrote it to the church in Rome. He was basically introducing himself and spreading the word of God.
Be joyful in hope.
To me this means to keep hoping! I always try to find ways to be hopeful. One way I do that is by focusing on God’s promises that have already been fulfilled:
The promise of Jesus (Micah 5:2, fulfilled in Matthew 2:1)
The death of Jesus (Psalm 22:16, fulfilled in Luke 23:33)
The resurrection (Mark 9:31, fulfilled in John 20:25,27)
God does what He says He’s going to do. I’m in good hands and I have hope!
Be patient in affliction.
This is easier said than done. Being patient while we are hurting or when things aren’t going our way is so hard. The book of Job shows us how this is possible. Job had everything taken from him, yet he praised the Lord. His patience inspired hope. Job had hope in two truths that helped him be patient.
First, the fact that God was at work. Job trusted that God would transform him. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4.
Second, the truth that he’d see Jesus face to face because he had confessed his sins and asked Jesus into his heart (Job 19:25-27). There are a lot of reasons to be patient in affliction, but for this one we have to look at things through different eyes. I also find it easier to be patient when I remember how patient God is with me!
Faithful in prayer.
Pray! Pretty simple. All over the Bible it instructs us to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray continually.” Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” There is power in prayer. We may not always get the exact answer we are looking for, but there is always an answer of some kind. I want another child very much. I pray about it all the time and I have not seen an answer to that prayer yet. Many of my prayers have been answered though. Some of which would not have been possible had I already had another child. I believe I will have another child one day. I don’t know how or when but I have faith that it will happen, and I pray for it every day. If along the way others are blessed by my having to wait, or I am matured in the process, I’m grateful. That is God’s will and purpose for me.