Years ago when my children were little, we were memorizing Romans 12:9-21. We were up to verse 12 which says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”  My son James asked what the word ‘affliction’ meant.  I told him that affliction meant when things don’t go they way we plan. I went on to say that sometimes we are afflicted in big ways like my mom getting sick or sometimes we are afflicted in small ways like when we spill milk.  I told him that God wants us to be patient in those things and to trust Him.  As the Lord would have it, within a minute, James spilled milk all over the carpet.  While cleaning it up, my son Jacob was outside with the dog and stepped in dog poop.  While cleaning that up, my daughter Meredith yelled from the bathroom that she had a big problem.  When I got upstairs, I observed that she had poured shampoo all over herself and the bathroom floor.  While cleaning that up, my daughter Elizabeth yelled that we were going to be late for class.  As I was hurriedly backing out of the driveway, I hit the garbage can and it flew across the road into the neighbor’s driveway.  While we all were cleaning that up, James said, “Boy, mom, I guess we were afflicted this morning and we all did a pretty good job of being patient.”  I smiled and thought that the Lord was gracious to us that morning by allowing all of that to happen on the tails of my meager attempt to explain what “be patient in affliction” meant.

The last few weeks, we have slowly been going through Romans 12:9-12 which says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

How are you doing in being patient in affliction? How are you in being patient when sinned against over and over by someone you love? How are you in being patient in wearing masks?  How are you in being patient in the political climate in which we are living? How are you in being patient when your child spills milk or has an accident? Do you struggle like me?

What does it mean to be patient? It means to “endure bravely and calmly the trials that come our way holding fast to faith in Christ.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).  Can I bravely and calmly endure the trials that come my way by holding fast to Christ? Oh, I want to.  How?  I have found that putting to paper and reviewing the attributes of who God is (remember the ABC’s of God?), what His promises are, and who I am in Him, along with praying helps in this endeavor of being patient in affliction.  

Let’s see how this plays out in wearing masks.  I do not like masks.  I don’t like wearing them and I don’t like others wearing them.  It brings about a feeling of darkness, dread, and panic for me.  I admit here that I have not been patient in this affliction.  Even so, does the mandate to wearing a mask change anything about who God is?  NO!  Does wearing a mask change any of God’s promises to me?  NO!!!Does wearing a mask change anything about who I am in Christ? NO!! Does wearing a mask test my patience?  YES!!!  So, I pray and ask the Lord for His help.  I thank Him for who He is.  I thank Him for His promises.  Here is a good one, “I can do all things (wear a mask) in Christ who gives me strength.”  I thank Him for who I am in Him.  I am a woman clothed with strength and dignity and I don’t have to demand my own way.  So, I can choose to stay home, which I often do, or I can choose to go out and trust the Lord that He is working this mask wearing for my good and for His glory. I want to be a doer of the word.  I want my love to be genuine and Christlike. I want to abhor the evil in this world while holding fast to what is good, which is Christ.  I want to love others with a brotherly affection, outdoing others in showing honor.  I don’t want to be lazy and lukewarm. I want to be fervent in spirit, serving Him.  I want to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. 

Where are you struggling with patience?  Put it down in the comments and I will pray for you.  May you fight for patience as you are afflicted and may you “count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:2-3, 12)

Blessings to you,

Heather 

When You Pray…

Each day:

1. Pray for yourself these things.
2. Pray for you spouse these things.
3. Pray for your children these things.

Weekly:

Sunday – Government

Monday – Immediate Family

Tuesday – Your Church

Wednesday – Your Extended Family

Thursday – Your Spouse’s Extended Family

Friday – Your Friends

Saturday – Variety

Feel free to go back and review in more detail the weekly prayer points.