Romans 8:24-26, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Recently when I have sat down with a cup of coffee to pray in my morning devotions, it has been harder for me to find the words I want to say. Sometimes I don’t even feel clear on what people or situations to pray for.
Even right now, I don’t know what words to type in this blog post with as much clarity as I have in the past. Maybe it’s being tired. Maybe it’s all the unknowns. Maybe it’s because I have my Master’s in Divinity, not Journalism.
But through it all, I have been clinging to the above passage in Romans. I have been praying that the Spirit intercedes in my life, in our lives, in the world in ways I cannot ask or imagine.
Now more than ever, I am aware of my humanity- my human limits. We are aware of our frailty and shortcomings. I wish that all could be right in the world; sadly, I am increasingly aware of how hard things are right now for all.
There are hopes that my heart longs for that are not here. The reality is I’m not good at waiting. I’m not good at being still.
I have learned this clearly through yoga. When I first started taking classes, I became restless in every pose; I could not slow my body and mind down. I have gotten better over time, but it is still very difficult.
When it comes to the fruits of the spirit, I like to focus on gentleness, kindness, and peace- things that come more naturally to me. Patience though. That one is much more difficult for me. I can imagine it’s difficult for all of us these days.
My prayer for us today is that we would welcome patience in our lives more today. Patience with the world, with people, with ourselves. That we would embrace stillness in weakness, in silence, in suffering. And we would cling to hope in the good, the bad & everything in between.
Blessings, Pastor Joel
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