Steam: Patience and joyful Hope

If we're going to keep up our spiritual momentum and not run out of steam then we will need to realise that life is not always fair and that problems can and will come our way. 

These adversities are the result of being broken people living in a broken world and knowing God does not guarantee us a pain-free life. When we assume that we have a right to a life that is always fair and without trials and tribulations, we set ourselves up for disappointment. 

Maybe that sounds a bit morbid to you. Am I saying that our lot is to have trouble in life and that we will just have to "suck it up"? 

No. 

Paul reminds us of two important character traits that we can draw on, namely, Hope and Patience. As we face the trials of life, hope and patience help us to see past the trials to the greater reality: God's love for us is stronger than the storms of life! 

I spoke at length about hope earlier in this series (See "Fuel") and so, for now, this definition will suffice: Hope is the confidence that God is with us and life is not pointless. Hope is what gets us out of bed in the morning and hope paves the way for faith and love. 

But Paul takes it further: Not only should we nurture and protect hope, but we can learn to be content, peaceful, assured and satisfied in this hope. Another word for these qualities is Joy. Joy is not the emotion of happiness but the peaceful contentment and assurance that comes from knowing I am not alone. 

Patience is about having a long-term view. Patience allows us to see beyond the pain and frustration of the moment. Patience is the runner who endures the burning lungs and pushes aching legs up the hill in the race because they are looking towards the Finish Line. Lack of patience is often a lack of vision. 

Both these qualities are given to us by God. They are gifts poured out in our lives by the Holy Spirit. We just receive them and nurture them. 

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PS: You can also consider the following verses: 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.