I regularly receive emails from our church prayer chain, and feel privileged to share in praying for those in need. One of the frequent requests in these emails is to pray for peace for people as they face certain difficult situations. As somebody who also asks for prayer in this way, it is very reassuring and comforting to know that many people are surrounding me and my difficult situations in prayer. And I am often able to say what a difference that has made. I find I am more at peace with my problems once others are praying.
Very recently my grandfather passed away, and I was particularly concerned about family relationships. There was disagreement about funeral arrangements, changes in plans, not agreeing with decisions others had made, and as a result strained relationships were becoming even more broken. Already broken people were becoming even more hurt by others. It was a humanist funeral and as a Christian I was struggling with the lack of God in it all. I was also concerned about the funeral as my divorced parents were both going to be there, and I was worried it would be difficult and awkward. However, several people were praying for us all, and with God's blessing on it, it turned out to be a very fitting celebration of an amazing man and of all he had achieved during his 98 years. And most surprisingly to me, my parents spent the afternoon in each other's company and talked, laughed and reminisced. God gave us all joy in our sorrows that day.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:1-5 [NIV]
Paul tells us that in the future we will become stronger, but until that time we must overcome various problems and challenges. In practical terms this means that we are likely to experience difficulties that will help us grow. Problems we face will help to develop our patience – which in turn will strengthen our character, and deepen our trust in God. This should also give us greater confidence about the future.
You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for these opportunities to grow and deal with the challenges in His strength.
Corinne Mason
Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 86:11-17, Amos 6:1-7:17, Romans 4:16-5:11
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