Joyful, Patient, Faithful

Written by Suzanne Benner

What images does the word “fruit” bring to your mind? Take this study to help you understand more.

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When someone we love is dying, we grieve not only for them, but also for ourselves. Times of trouble, pain, suffering and loss are opportunities for each of us to seek God in the midst of our need. Therefore, as we pray for our friends, we pray for ourselves.

There is a short verse in Romans, just three simple phrases, words packed with power: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, NIV) It’s written in the form of a command so as I repeat it over and over, it becomes instruction for my mind, direction for my heart, and a reminder of how to live each moment.

Make us joyful in hope.

Are you feeling hopeless?: Moving through your suffering
Exhale your sin: Find hope in the Holy Spirit

Joy comes not from the situation, but from our hope. Our hope is that the God who created us also redeemed us. Therefore we have confidence, a deeply rooted joy,that though this life is temporary and full of trouble, when it ends we will be with God. He will wipe away our tears. Ask God for that kind of joy for your loved ones. Ask Him for that kind of joy for yourself.

Make us patient in affliction.

Patience is being willing to wait, to endure without complaint. We can be patient in affliction through the power Holy Spirit when we remember that Jesus suffered for us. Patience comes through surrender. When we surrender our wants, our needs, and our perceived rights to God, we can wait for God to work out His purposes in our circumstances. He will not neglect to comfort us. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)

Make us faithful in prayer.

Faithfulness is continuing to believe, staying true to our commitment. Therefore, though doubts and struggles may hound us, we continue to pray for those who suffer believing that God is good, that He is all-powerful and that He hears our prayers. When we grow weary, discouraged or frustrated, we confess our unbelief and ask God again for the faith to believe.

And so we pray. Hour after hour, day after day, week after week:

God, make us joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Amen.

Questions: Which element of this prayer do you need most right now? How does praying for others strengthen your own faith?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Power to Witness, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: all-powerful, commitment, confidence, dying, faithful, grieve, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, joy, Joyful, loss, pain, patient, pray, romans, suffering, Suzanne Benner, trouble

6 Responses to “Joyful, Patient, Faithful”

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T says:

August 23, 2009 at 2:24 am

i am 57 yrs old and i guess the never having a warm, nurturing, confident, trustworthy and safe relationship is as Marsha says, only a “short time” compared to the scheme of things? i know eternity is going to be forever so it’s a time when all the pain and suffering of never having one won’t matter. i love Jesus yet i still have yet to see so many of His promises come to light for me and i’ve been saved over 20 yrs.
deebee says:

August 20, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Thanks for this great devotional Suzanne. I love the reminder that Joy comes not from the situation, but from our hope. Chuck Swindoll once said that ‘Our outlook on life is not based on our circumstance, but on our focus!’ As we remember that, we realize anew that joy does come from our hope.
Doris says:

August 19, 2009 at 3:10 pm

God is so good. I have always known that to be true, but sometimes I need to be reminded.
In every situation and every trial, He is always present, inviting me to trust Him and obey His word. God is sooooooo good.
Marsha says:

August 19, 2009 at 9:50 am

I just wanted to comment today because every part of this devotional touched me with the struggles I have been focused on lately. It is hard to say which one I needed more because I needed to hear all of them. We will only have these life struggles/worries/heartache for a short while in the scheme of things before we go to live with God. I get so focused on wanting something to go “my way” that it is hard for me to sit back and let God lead my direction.
I also enjoyed reading the other comments.
God, make me joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
May everyone have a blessed and happy day.
Amen.
Deb says:

August 19, 2009 at 8:20 am

Today is my birthday, so as is often the case, I am contemplative about my life. The email daily devotionals are new to me — but so far I am enjoying them.

The thing that stood out for me in the message today is about prayer. I have always prayed out of obedience and also care for others, without really thinking how prayer reinforces and strengthens my connection and faith in God.

I am constantly amazed at how God made us to worship him!!
Ann says:

August 19, 2009 at 7:39 am

Todays devotional was particularly helpful to me today…so much so that I decided to “Blog” for the first time. I hope I am doing this right! My mother in law has been struggling with terminal cancer and we just about lost her last week after she responded poorly to a transplant. However, I realized that todays devotional is important to remember not just in tough times but is a good daily reminder. God, make us joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Amen.
Thank you for this great devotional…I am so glad I signed up to receive these each morning, such a great start to my day!