Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12 I am always amazed and thankful at how the Holy Spirit directs me to the exact verse that I need for a particular moment in my life. As I was starting one of life’s trials a couple of years ago, I was lead to Romans 12:12. I could not believe that this little verse, with so much meaning, was tucked away in the middle of Romans. I know I have read it many times before but it never had an impact on me. This little verse became my life line in the weeks and months to come as I watch my marriage fall apart.
During my Bible study time I started taking the verse apart, phrase by phrase. I spent many hours pondering the first phrase, “rejoice in hope”. Rejoice in the confidant expectation I have, as a believer, of what is yet to come. Thankfully, this life is not all there is. These trials are preparing me for spending eternity with my Savior. Rejoice in my reason for living. The purpose of my life it to glorify the Lord.
When all four of my kids need me at the same time – rejoice. When I feel like I do not have one more ounce of myself to give – rejoice. When I have so many unanswered questions about my future – rejoice. When I just want to scream because I have to watch my children suffer – rejoice.
This is one of those concepts that seems impossible to do – and without the Lord it is.
2 Peter 1:3 – tells us that the Lord has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. He provides us with exactly what we need at the exact time we need it.
I am amazed daily at the grace the Lord has given me to persevere through this time of life. Although we would rather skip over the trials in our lives there is really no better way to grow spiritually.
The learning curve is steep when the only thing you have is hope. You realize very quickly that the only thing you have is the most important thing in life.
article by Tracy Howard
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Tracy Howard is currently a single mom of four. She is raising her children alone while surrounded by the grace God gives her each day. Although these are not the circumstances she would have chosen, she has learned what it means to truly trust God and rest in His promises. She is so thankful that the Lord chose to save her and clings to the hope that she has because of Him. She would never have thought it possible to experience the “peace that passes all understanding” in her situation but each day the Lord proves faithful. She is also a certified teacher in special education and elementary education. Before becoming a mom she taught full time. Now she spends her days homeschooling her older two children, leading a homeschool co-op and a Bible study at her church, and being a substitute teacher.
