“We can rejoice when we encounter problems and trials, for they help us develop endurance. Endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our hope. The hope God gives us doesn’t lead either to shame or disappointment—for Abba dearly loves us. In fact, he gave us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (pp Rom.5:3-5)
Heavenly Father, multiple challenges + waiting + weariness + heart-drift is an equation that often results in a bad attitude, wrong thinking, and poor choices. Thus, these words from the Apostle Paul come as a Spirit-kiss, mind-balm, and heart-salve.
Just when we start heading into a downward cycle of people-blaming, self-contempt, and/or heavenward-railing, you send your Word to heal us (Ps.107:20). Healing often comes by changing us—not our circumstances. Though we’d prefer a hassle-free, conflict-void life, you choose to give us patient endurance, Christlikeness, and a living hope instead.
Being a gazillion times wiser than us, you know what is best; and being a gazillion times more loving, you also know what we need. So, thank you for the gift and various ministries of the Holy Spirit. He is rocket fuel for our hope, strength in our weakness, and the only one who can actually make us like Jesus.
Abba, I pray today for friends today who are tired and weary, spent and exhausted, vulnerable and easy targets for the lies of the devil. By your Holy Spirit, grant each of us a fresh, copious outpouring of your love into our hearts. Instead of feeling abandoned, may we sense our adoption and belovedness in Christ. Turn our cries of “Why me, Lord?” into “Thank you, Abba.” Transform our self-centered impatience into other-centered compassion. So Very Amen.
