Both the words and the structure of Romans 12:12 reinforce this week's Word to Live By: PERSEVERE.
After all, it's not so hard to start with joyful hope, is it? And most any challenging situation keeps us faithful in prayer until we reach a resolution.
But that part in the middle--(be) patient in affliction--now that's a tough one. That's where we have to choose to persevere: patiently, expectantly, joyfully, faithfully--supernaturally possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Anne Graham Lotz's book entitled Why? offers profound reminders from the story of Lazarus and from Anne's personal life of trusting God when we don't understand His timing or His ways. She speaks of suffering -- a synonym for affliction -- and challenges us to trust God's sovereignty, purpose, and plan when we don't yet understand the why.
This week, may you have a surge of joyful hope and faithful prayer as you persevere patiently through whatever affliction or suffering for which you don't yet have a why.
Blessings,
Dalene Parker, guest blogger
Words to Live By: One Word a Week (pages 271-276)
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