Monday's Devotion: Rejoice in Hope

 Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I’ve learned a lot from this scripture over the years by living it.  I don’t know about rejoicing in my sufferings – this letter was written during a time of serious persecution for Christians.  Still, I know that perseverance builds us up and makes us stronger.  Sometimes, though people just don’t make it through to the other side of their pain.  Friday was Veteran’s Day.  I saw a story this week about post traumatic stress disorder.  Did you know 18 veterans who suffer from PTSD commit suicide every day?  These are men and women who survived wars going back as far as WWII.  That is so very sad.  We spend billions on fighting wars and subjecting soldiers to unbearable experiences, but how much do we spend to help them recover?  Maybe not enough.  Yesterday I found out that a woman I interviewed for our church administrative assistant position earlier this year shot herself a month or so ago because she could not find work.  She had once been the executive secretary to the CEO of a very large well-known concern.  That was a difficult thing to hear.  I usually try to write a uplifting devotion for the first of the week but this is all weighing heavily on me.  I love the Lord so much and feel cared for and consoled in difficult times but some people don’t feel that and their difficulties become too much to endure.  I hope we will all be more attentive to those around us and will reach out and help the troubled seek counseling.  In the meantime we can live by another verse from Romans 12:12.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Gracious God, we lift up to you today people who are struggling with difficulties and finding it hard to carry on.  We especially pray for our veterans and pray that one day we will all see world peace.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.