2-22-2021

 Good Morning All,   

         Romans 12:12; “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

    A few years ago, I was having an issue with my health insurance.  So, I called the toll-free number and was told that my call was important to them but that all available representatives were currently assisting other callers so would I please hold onto the line.  I heard that four times before I got a real person.  I told him this call was in response to a letter that I had received.  He asked me to hold while he found that letter.  A few minutes later he came back on and could not find the letter, so we started over.  I had to fill out an entire new form for him.  I told him what had happened.  He told me that he had not heard of that so he needed to ask someone else and could I hold.

    My beautiful blushing bride got me a fresh cup of coffee as I sighed and sat down on my chair.  Then this very polite man came back on the line on said this is what we are going to do.  So, he began the process, again.  I gave him my name, my address, my birthdate, my social security number and then we agreed to the wording of the brief reason for the correspondence.  He then began this conversation; “Ok, Mr. Bierman, we are almost done all I have to do is send this and…NO, NO, NO, NO, Oh NO, please no.”  There were a few moments of silence and then he came back on the line and said, “I hit delete instead of send and lost all our data, WE have to start over again.”  I sighed; again, my patience in tribulation was being tested.

    I can do the first part; I can rejoice in hope.  I have that down but patient in tribulation; that one I struggle with.  And struggle I do, partly, because I am supposed to be the calming voice; partly because I need to learn patience.  Yet this is most difficult and not just for me for many that I minister to.  Often, as we set in a hospital room, the phrase, “if they would only give me some explanation as to why this is happening, I could live with it.  It is not knowing that is hard.” 

    Even though it is hard, we do not need to see the entire route of the journey that we travel.  Knowing may actually make the journey more difficult as we may travel it with sadness.  We know that God is leading us down the path.  He is providing for the needs that we will have as we go.  He places the people that we need to be there, and, above all, we have his Word to give us the comforting words of hope and salvation that he gives us.  He gives us his Spirit to guide and protect us.  God promises us that the tribulation will not overtake us.  He is always there with us.

    Part of faith is trusting that God will never leave us.  Part of faith is knowing that God will see us through the trials of this life and give us victory in the end.  Part of faith is being patient in this life while we are waiting for Christ to return.    

Gracious Father, help me to be patient.  Give me the ability to remain calm and faithful in the face of this world.  Send me your Spirit of peace that I may live in peace.  Give me the strength to be patient in the face of tribulation.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret