Rev. Richard Smith
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction…
As I noted back in October, one of the Bible’s most inviting insights is the call to persevere amidst life’s trials and challenges. This Biblical emphasis is not just a stoical call to persevere, but rather a call of faith; a willingness not just to persevere but to do so grounded in trust in God; a commitment that amidst the ebb and flow of life’s blessings and life’s burdens we will hang in there with God.
Paul in this text from Romans highlights the virtue of keeping “joyful in hope” even as life’s afflictions from time to time assail us. What does he mean? In essence, he maintains that people of spiritual faith can persevere with joy because our present and our ultimate hope is grounded in confidence that God never abandons us and continuously works for good!
But let’s be honest…With our current international crises (war, hunger, growing numbers of beleaguered refugees, etc.), it’s awfully easy to question where and how God is truly at work! I can’t for one moment presume that if I were fleeing the massive and intolerable violence being unleashed on my homeland that I wouldn’t have strong questions for God; I would; I do.
How can one be joyful in hope when such devastation rains down upon you? How does one have confidence that God is working for good when there seems to be more harm than help, more pain than relief, more affliction than healing?
Let’s start here with the resolution, as I’ve noted before, that these questions are fair questions for God and for us! Not letting people ask the hard questions, press the cutting issues, raise some level of defiance doesn’t serve our witness to God. If our God can be so easily miffed at such heartfelt inquiries, then our God is too small. When you read the Biblical record, you find numerous instances where some of God’s primary witnesses and prophets feel free to lay into God and seek a meaningful response. Just read the psalms, for example, and you will discover a plethora of honest questions and honest doubt. Remember that Jesus on the cross quoted the 22nd Psalm when he cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The opening verses of that heartfelt anguish are…
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
There comes the point, however, when our doubt can and should turn to sincere hope. We can be in rightful anguish and yet still maintain our faith. We do so essentially because we’ve seen God at work. We’ve seen good rise out of the ashes of evil. We’ve experienced the presence of God’s Spirit giving us comfort and strength. We’ve conversed with persons who’ve known the worst and yet still believe the best. We’ve noted the occasions when God made things right. We’ve learned that history has a long game and that God is the one leading this long game.
His will may not be apparent every moment of every day, but we Jesus folk stand on a promise evidenced again and again! We can then be joyful in hope!!
