DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: DECEMBER 12 PATIENCE IN TRIBULATION (2) SCRITPURE: ROMANS 5: 3 – 4; John 16: 33; JOB 42:5
Yesterday’s devotional made us know that uncertainties in life forms the ingredients of life experiences and makes mankind develop hope for a better tomorrow. The Bible contains unique counsel on why Christians are to exercise patience in tribulation. Being patient in tribulation is a mark of a Christian and a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a way to wait for the LORD. Patience is the ingredient that makes us remain faithful during hardship and persecution to take things as the will of God (John 16: 33). One Pastor Jason Lim, while writing on suffering based on Rom. 5: 3 – 4 said that, the little things that fret and try causing us to murmur and complain will make us saints if we endured them. What will make us bear them is patience.
Patient is found amongst the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22; Col. 3: 12). According to the author of Hebrews, patience in tribulation is an indispensable virtue. Patient is what we need now as the world is diving deeper and deeper into distressing state of physical, mental, social, economic adversity or afflictions. Christians should know that satan has hands in the global hardship, using some leaders of the society to make things extremely difficult so that many turn their back at God. Backing out on God makes us fail from receiving God’s promises. Patient in endurance means staying put in the face of adversity and standing firm when you feel like running away. The Bible says: “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” (1 Cor. 16: 13 New Living Translation Bible).
There is no doubt that you might have passed through one type of tribulation or the other since the months of January till now. Practicing patience continually during tribulation is essential. We must all learn to wait patiently on the LORD. It is not easy but very necessary. The caution here is being careful not to lose the promises of God meant for us still this month. A Little time given is very critical. The beloved in the LORD, develop in yourself, more faith that stares down the most difficult tribulations, looking them straight in the eyes and refusing to blink. Jesus will really love it when He sees great faith in us. And He rewards the waiting when we least expected.
PRAYER:
Lord JESUS, grant me more faith to wait on you and our Almighty Father even in this month of December so that I will receive the promises meant for me in this year.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch