DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: DECEMBER 11 PATIENCE IN TRIBULATION (1) SCRITPURE: ROMANS 12: 12; 2 COR. 1:8; JOB 42:5
There is power in patience, especially when passing through untold hardships. Uncertainties of life, to a philosophically minded person add colours to life experiences. Uncertainty can be ingredient of hope in the sense that when in a period of uncertainty, one hopes for a time of deliverance from the ugly situations. What makes uncertainty forms the ability to be hoping for deliverance possible, when passing through hardship, is patience. A man of patience conquers his future at a long run. Patience enables the champion pushes through any tick cloud of hardship called tribulation. The word “tribulation” by Christian context means “crushed”, “pressed”, “squeezed”, “stressed”, “burdened”, or “troubled”.
When Apostle Paul says, “Be patient in tribulation…,” he is reminding us that there will be seasons of life in this world that we simply have to endure. Patience is the major factor that enables us to endure. As Christians, being patience in tribulation involves waiting on God’s time of intervention. We do not look into the world for solution to our problems when passing through tribulations. When we do that, it means we are increasing our pains as the tribulation will be on the increase. Paul speaks of a season in his life where he was utterly and unbearably crushed (2 Cor. 1:8). What God require of you at such a time is patience. Patience helps us to endure tribulation. This makes it a special grace from God. This could be the reason Apostle Paul said: “…tribulation works patience” (Rom. 5: 3). In the original Greek text, the phrase “be patient” means “to be persistent, “refuse to stop”, “persevere” as explained in English Standard Version.
The beloved, there is no gain asking you if you had had crushing moment of life in any of the months this year. Of course, you have had several of such experiences. But this devotional comes to tell you to hopefully stay on God just for a little more time. Job experienced extraordinary troublethe loss of money, property, livelihood, and family. His wife said, “Why don’t you curse God and die.” Job said, “I won’t do that.” Instead, he wept, prayed, struggled, and endured. In the end he came to see God in a way he had never seen Him before. He said: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). Your patience in waiting on God is surely bringing you testimonies before the end of this December. Amen!
Prayer:
Pray and ask God to grant you an ability to endure your crushing, pressing, stressing and troubling moments till your eyes will see the glory of God still this year in Jesus name.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch