Rejoice in Hope; Be Patient in Suffering; Be in Constant Prayer

Rejoice in hope; be patient in suffering; be in constant prayer. This was the advice of Paul to all of us. Knowing that we all suffer in one way or other. Hope, patient, and constant prayer will elevate us to the throne of God. Prayer is the most important action we must take in our sufferings and trials. It connects us to God faster than a telephone, for He knows even before we pray. Prayer is also part of the armor of God, mentioned in Ephesians 6:18: [Pray] at all times, in the Spirit with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end, keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints. “The earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available” (James 5:16b). For not praying, we are voided of power to face our situations. Prayers should never be overlooked in times of needs. Before we go to a friend, with our problems, we should consider going to our heavenly Father first. He is ever willing to hear from us. He said, Call to Me and I will answer you I will show you mighty things that you do not know (Jer. 33:3).

I have not met a person with the perfect characteristics of patient in challenging times. Apart from the Lord, who suffered horribly in the hands of His own people and the Romans. The Bible says, He was oppressed, He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a sheep led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7); Let this same attitude’ and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Messiah YAHSHUA, Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God, did not think this equality  with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself [ of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant in that He  became like men and was born a human being, and after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and  carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Phil. 2:5-8). Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not ye struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, not have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood (Heb. 12:3-4).

YAHSHUA lived among men, living an exemplar life for all of us to follow. YAHSHUA, the Source of our faith and also its Finisher, “He for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is not seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.12:3). In our troubles, we too have reason to endure with patient the trials we go through, because the hope we have is the eternal salvation we are waiting for, if we do not faint and give up. YAHSHUA said, If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own, but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. (John 15:19); YAHSHUA suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through His own blood and set them apart as holy; let us then go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him, for here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come (Heb. 13: 12-14). Paul wrote in the letter to the Philippians 3:20: But we are citizens of the state which is in heaven and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the Lord YAHSHUA the Messiah, Savior, Who will transform and fashion a new the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself (Phil. 3:20-21).

So, it is that we have supernatural hope by faith in that we are not of this world; that should compel us to be patient in suffering, by looking ahead to the realization of our hope someday. Meanwhile, focusing in Him, Who is able to transform this body of decay into a glorious and immortal body; “He Who promised is faithful and He will do it.” Right now, we are in this mortal and frail and prone to disease body, but that is not the end for us even after we die. So, while we suffer, we rejoice in the hope of our salvation in constant prayer to the end, until we will meet our Lord YAHSHUA face to face! And that will be a glorious encounter that will last for eternity!