“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean one ceases to be human, a creature, a finite being.
Duh! Right? Who doesn’t know that?
It sounds so obvious. But the way many Christians deal with suffering, disease, death, failure makes one think. It’s almost as if some Christians believe that suffering, disease, death, failure are un-Christian. We pray it away. We claim for ourselves promises of well-being. We cherish and pursue success, health, and wealth.
Because we are human, because we are creatures, because we are finite:
- We will suffer
- We will battle disease
- We will die
- We will fail
Being a Christian doesn’t change what we deal with. Being a Christian changes how we deal with it.
Because we are not alone, because suffering, disease, death, and failure never get the last word, because our past does not define us, we “rejoice in hope, are patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer.”
Friends, when we replace “Why is this happening to me?” with “What is God trying to teach me?” it changes everything!
God is at work. God is good. God wants what is best for us. God knows what is best for us.
Trust God. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.
What is God trying to teach you today?
Praxis: Faith in Action 