“There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3-5 MSG)
REFLECTION
Oxford Languages expresses one definition of the word ‘passionate’ this way: having, showing, or caused by strong feelings or beliefs. One synonym: heartfelt. One antonym: half-hearted.
I really don’t want to be half-hearted, and the text today makes it clear that praise is a key piece of a sometimes puzzling process of sanctification and transformation in Christ. So let’s perpetually praise God in the thick of troubles, “…because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us.” We can’t muster up pure patience of any kind, it’s a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). So, let’s prayerfully press on with praise, knowing that the One who loves us perfectly is forever faithful. Hallelujah!
PRAYER POEM
Loving Lord, I pray to stay so close to You, come what may today and every other day — in the thick of troubles and in the celebration of triumph — for You are always truly trustworthy and true, irrespective of what we go through.
