Tuesday, June 15, 2021
HOPE AND PATIENCE
Romans 8:24-25 (New Revised Standard Version)
24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
A good friend of mine once told me, “Don’t pray for patience. I did and had back surgery. I was in bed for weeks!” That was a long time ago and back surgery has changed a great deal since then. Lately, many things have demanded our patience. The list begins with wearing masks and continues with getting vaccinated and there’s so much more. The need for patience may make us nervous, sarcastic, pessimistic and so much more that doesn’t sound great. We have all seen the manifestation of these feelings in so many ways.
Paul seems to indicate, in his letter to the Romans, that patience is linked to hope. That hope gives rise to a calm perspective, to optimism, to courage. Later in the eighth chapter comes this familiar verse: “28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” It’s hard to see, from our current perspective, how some of this experience is working for good. It’s the rest of that verse that I need to remember. We love God; we are called by God and therefore we hope. We trust in the lessons God teaches us through every experience of our lives.
My friend was a strong Christian. She lived a life of service to her church as well as her family and friends. She lived a life of faith and hope tempered with patience. I just hope that I can do the same.
Dear Lord, we learn from you through all the experiences of our lives. “Teach us”, as the old hymn says, “your patience in closer, dearer company. In work that keeps faith sweet and strong; in trust that triumphs over wrong.” Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Sue Uzelmeier
