Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Patient
The B.C. government is looking at its temporary housing options and trauma counselling for thousands of refugees of the Ukraine war. Numbers are not yet known as the federal government works with European countries to deal with an estimated 2.5 million people who have fled Ukraine as Russian armed forces continue to bombard and invade its cities. B.C. Premier Horgan met with Ukrainian community representatives and settlement organizations this past March, and asked reporters to be patient when contacting volunteers working with Ukrainian refugees because they are overwhelmed with the needs.
***
None of us enjoy living through challenging times. We bear up under them, praying that they will be over soon. Some days we wonder if we have what it takes to face one more day. It is likely you’ve been there – it is part of the human experience. Even followers of Jesus face that kind of adversity. Sometimes adversity comes because of our own stupidity or stubbornness. More often it comes because we live in a world that is far from the way it was when the Creator crafted it perfectly. How do we respond to such times? Romans 12:12 tells us: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” A knowledge of God’s love and grace is critical if we are going to get through challenging times. Knowing that He loves us and will never allow anything to come our way that by His grace we cannot overcome helps us stand strong when the afflictions come. As we remain faithful in prayer, God draws us close, and hope begins to rise. We don’t have within ourselves all we need to be faithful in affliction – God supplies all we need.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley