What is joyful in hope?

In Romans 12:12, Paul encourages us to, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” The context of this verse is the entire chapter of Romans 12, in which Paul contrasts the positivity of choosing faith with the negativity of conforming to our fallen world. Paul urges us to offer ourselves completely to God and renew our minds, so we can discover and fulfill God’s will for our lives. Verse 12 is included in the section on how to put love in action. Paul is pointing out that when we choose to be joyful in hope and take action in the other ways he describes, God’s love flows through our lives in ways that can bring much-needed positive change to our world.

Being joyful in hope means choosing faith in every situation, trusting God because we’re confident that our hope in him is real. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1 declares. While we don’t yet see what will happen in the future, we can hope for the best, and be confident in faith that God will do what’s best for us as we trust him. No matter what circumstances we encounter in this fallen world, we can experience joy in hope, because joy is based on our relationships with the God who offers us hope. Happiness comes and goes as our circumstances change. Joy, however, is much more reliable. God makes it possible for us to experience joy in any circumstances, even in the most difficult situations we go through. When we choose to live in faith, we choose to live with joyful hope, looking forward to the possibilities of what God may choose to do as we trust him.

When Paul urges us to be joyful in hope, he also urges us to be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. All three actions work together to strengthen our relationships with God. Choosing those actions shows that we’re turning our attention beyond our circumstances to God, who has the power to use those circumstances for good purposes. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28 assures us. It also helps us to be joyful in hope, patient when we’re afflicted, and faithfully praying when we rest in Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus is reassuring us that he will help us with whatever we need along our journeys of faith. Thankfully, we can celebrate the fact that we have a good God caring for us, and express our faith by trusting him in all circumstances.

We can live out Paul’s advice about joy and hope in several key ways. Here are 3 vital actions we can take to be joyful in hope:

1. Expect the best. Rather than worrying about the worst that can happen, we can expect God to bring us the best. God promises to give us hope in our future: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let’s take God at his word and believe that he plans the best for us. We’re free to stop wasting time and energy worrying about worst-case scenarios. Instead, we can pray about our concerns for the future and ask God to intervene in those situations. Expecting the best outcomes by thinking hopefully about our future leads us to joy because we’re focusing our minds on the source of joy, which is God. Isaiah 40:31 assures us that God will renew our strength when we place our hope in him: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

2. Pray regularly. Communicating with God through prayer is an essential way to access both hope and joy. God promises in Jeremiah 29:13 that whenever we seek him wholeheartedly, we can see our hope become reality by finding him: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” We can also pray for joy in every circumstance, and doing so empowers us to experience joy in God’s presence. Psalm 16:10 proclaims: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence…”. So, rather than pursuing happiness and being disappointed when our circumstances don’t support it, we can pursue joy through prayer and count on finding it in God’s presence. Being aware of God’s presence with us – which happens through prayer – will fill our souls with both hope and joy.

3. Look forward to learning as our future unfolds. Day by day, we can choose to look forward to what God will do in our lives and what we can learn from those possibilities. We can experience more joy by expressing our curiosity in hopeful ways. My book Wake Up to Wonder explains research that shows a vital dimension of curiosity is “Joyful Exploration,” in which people enjoy the learning and growth that happens from seeking new information and reflecting on the possibilities of it. Exploring the possibilities of God’s work in our lives, while joyfully anticipating what we can learn from it, helps us stay focused on the hope God offers us. That way, we can see every day as a new adventure to enjoy with God. We can look forward to the wonder of what God will make possible for us – which is limitless. Ephesians 3:20 says that God “… is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” There is always something awe-inspiring to look forward to as we walk through each day with God!

Joy and hope work together. Both are blessings that come from a close relationship with God. When our troubles in this fallen world diminish our sense of either joy or hope, we can go to God for help. God will give us the joy and hope we need – in any circumstances – when we seek him wholeheartedly. Day by day, the possibilities are endless for what God can do in our lives. Every new day is a new opportunity to go on an adventure with our generous God, who wants us to enjoy hope along the way. So, we can be joyful in hope as we walk with God into our future!

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Merlas

One of the purposes of the Word of God is to equip us to be the overcomers that Christ died for us to be. In Romans 12:12 (NIV), the apostle Paul describes ways of living above our circumstances, no matter what we may be facing. He says: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

"Be joyful in hope." This means that, no matter what is going on around us, and no matter where we are at the time, we are constantly looking ahead. The Living Bible translation says: "Be glad for all God is planning for you." As followers of Christ, we are never without hope. We know that even if our circumstances seem negative now, brighter days are up ahead for us. Why? Because God is a good God, and His love for us is everlasting and unfailing. The psalmist wrote: "But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God! (Psalm 42:11 TLB) When our hope is in the Lord and His goodness, we will experience the supernatural joy that is our inheritance in Christ.

"Patient in Affliction." Paul is urging us here to be patient in times of trouble. This is absolutely essential, because when we become impatient in a situation, we often act unwisely and apart from the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we rob ourselves of God's best. There are some blessings that we can never receive until we have gone through a period of patiently waiting on God for them. And we have to remind ourselves often that we simply cannot improve on the plans that God has in store for us. Whenever I am tempted to get ahead of God in a situation, I recall some very wise words that I once heard a godly man say: "God's plan is worth the cost of a delay." Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) instructs us to, "Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Be determined to lay hold of your share of the promises of God by exercising patience in times of tension and trouble.

"Faithful in prayer." It's been said that the greatest sin is prayerlessness. Too often, we miss out on seeing God show up in a situation in a mighty way because we fail to pray about it, or we stop praying about it too soon. Scripture says: "One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes." (Luke 18:1 TLB) We live in an "instant" generation. We demand instant results, and we often get them. But that's not God's way. He tells us, "Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]." (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP) Some Christians are worried about praying too hard and long for certain things, because when the answer doesn't come in a "reasonable" amount of time, they fear that they are out of God's will. But more than likely, in most cases, we step out of God's will when we STOP praying for something that the Lord has put on our heart. One way that will help us to determine God's will in a situation is to see how it aligns with God's Word. The Bible says that we can be confident that God will answer our prayers when they are in harmony with His will - but it doesn't say WHEN He will answer them. (1 John 5:14-15) The Message Bible translation of Romans 12:12 says: "Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder." What circumstances and lives could YOU see changed by following Paul's formula for success?

Prayer: Lord, when a loved one or I are faced with dark or difficult times, remind me to be joyful in hope. Give me the patience I need to wait for Your timing and Your best. And teach me to persevere in prayer "until the answer comes." Thank You for the victories and rewards that will be mine as I follow Your Spirit's lead!

• Expect the best. Rather than worrying about the worst that can happen, we can expect God to bring us the best.
• Pray regularly. Communicating with God through prayer is an essential way to access both hope and joy.
• Look forward to learning as our future unfolds.

"Be joyful in hope." This means that, no matter what is going on around us, and no matter where we are at the time, we are constantly looking ahead. The Living Bible translation says: "Be glad for all God is planning for you." As followers of Christ, we are never without hope.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

The meaning of Romans 12:12 should be both an encouragement and a challenge for followers of Jesus. It’s a promise of the hope that we can find in Christ and a challenge to keep our eyes on him rather than what’s afflicting us.

In this blog post we are going to break down this verse and see what the Romans 12:12 meaning holds for us today.

To better understand the depth of the meaning of Romans 12:12 we first need to understand the context it was written in.

Let’s start by looking at the verse that starts off this chapter.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

Whenever you see a “therefore” in the Bible you need to ask what it’s there for. It’s often there to make an important point that we need to lean into.

In this case Paul is drawing a conclusion from all that he has presented so far in Romans. Romans 3:20, 5:1, 8:1, and much of his letter thus far is what the “therefore” is referring to.

When we view Romans 12:12 in a vacuum we end up missing out on how it’s possible to live it out.

Paul has spent much of his letter talking about the power of Christ and what he has done for us. Now in Romans 12 he’s talking about how we should live. On its own this chapter might seem like a steep ask.

But Paul’s not telling us to do this so that we can earn something, but rather we should do this in response to ALL that God has done for us.

I’ve written before about this chapter. You can read that post here: The TRUTH About The Romans 12:2 Meaning (be not conformed)

To help us better understand the meaning of Romans 12:12 we are going to break it down into three sections:

This will help us see each of the things Paul is telling us to do.

Joy is one of the primary attributes promised to followers of Jesus. But this joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances, rather it’s dependent on Jesus. In other words, our joy is secure.

And what is this joy rooted in? Our hope in Christ. We must never lose sight of our hope of things in the future that God has promised us.

Paul is calling back to a few chapters earlier in Romans 5:3-5. Even in the midst of the trials of this life we can have hope because of what God has done for us.

The meaning of Romans 12:12 shows us that whatever you are going through, whatever storm you are facing, joy is yours when you place your hope in Jesus.

We don’t like this one do we? And while we might not like it, we shouldn’t be surprised by it. Jesus promised that we would face troubles in this world.

Christians should not be shocked when they face affliction. After all, we follow a king who faced more than his fair share. But we can be patient in affliction, because of Jesus.

In John 16:33 Jesus gives us a promise that we should hold onto in these moments. Troubles will come, but we can take heart because he has already overcome them.

Pay attention to the progression in this verse, from hope to perseverance to prayer. Prayer is our great resource whenever we are facing the trials of this life.

Prayer should be of the highest priority for each follower of Jesus. This is what Jesus modeled for us; he frequently withdrew from the crowds to pray. And we would be better off if we simply persevered in prayer.

The Romans 12:12 meaning reminds us that it is through prayer and connecting with Jesus that we can find hope and joy.

Now that we know the meaning of Romans 12:12 let’s switch gears and look at how we can live this out in our everyday lives.

It’s really easy to take our eyes off Jesus when the storms of life come. But that’s the last thing we should do. We’ve got to keep our eyes on Jesus and remind ourselves of what’s true.

Much like Peter when he walked on water in the middle of a storm. When he kept his eyes on Jesus he stayed above the waves. But when he started focusing on the wind and waves he sunk.

The way to be joyful in hope and patient in affliction is through Jesus. We’ve got to fix our eyes on him.

Romans 12:12 tells us one of the ways we can keep our eyes on Jesus: through prayer.

I know that sounds kinda cliche, something a pastor would say. But Prayer is one of the primary ways we can connect with God.

Jesus modeled this for us in his time on earth. He continually snuck away from the crowds, to spend time with his father. If Jesus needed this, we need it even more.

If you want to hold onto hope and find peace in affliction you must devote yourself to prayer.

God never intended for us to live life alone. We were meant to live in community with each other. Again, look at Jesus’ example. He surrounded himself with close friendships.

Paul shares this idea in Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

This is becoming an increasingly rare practice in our culture. We put up walls around our lives and let few people in. That shouldn’t be the case for followers of Jesus; we should practice hospitality.

To find the hope and joy that Paul is promising will be a difficult, if not impossible, task on our own. We need each other.

Throughout the Bible joy is promised to followers of Jesus. Joy that’s not dependent on our circumstances, rather that is built on what Jesus has done for us.

The meaning of Romans 12:12 points us to how we can find this joy: through Jesus. So, be joyful in hope and patient in affliction. You can do this through prayer and with the help of others. Don’t settle for the lesser things of this world; step into what God has for you.

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Thank you for reading this blog post about the meaning of Romans 12:12. I hope you were encouraged and challenged to be joyful in hope and patient in affliction.

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

This verse from Paul comes in a section that exhorts his readers to love others well. As we seek to love and bless others, we will have to mind our dispositions. We are admonished to be joyful as we have hope. This life, even in the best of times, is not without a fair amount of affliction. What should set the Christian apart is the joy that she has, even in the face that affliction.

The power for hope, joy, patience, and faithfulness comes from the Holy Spirit and the sure knowledge of the Gospel. If you rearrange the verse you get a good order for approaching it. Pray faithfully to increase the hope that you have in Christ. Prayer will lead to patience and joy, even when being afflicted.

#1 “Be joyful…” Joy is part of our birthright at God’s children. Those who have taken the light burden and easy yoke of Christ (Mat 11:30) will be able to feel joyful even in the most difficult of trials. Consider the child whose family is in great difficulty, but who has a kind and gentle father in the home. She will not remember the hardship of growing up, only the joy she had in the presence of her father. Christians are called to live in such a way as children of God. To cultivate faith is to cultivate joy.

#2 “…in hope,” Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” It is not good to hope in just anything. In Nazi concentration camps, it was those who hoped who failed to hold up when hopes died. If they said, “Surely we’ll be home by the new year,” they were unable to bear it when the new year came and went and they were still there in bondage. But those who hope in God and his promises will have an unlimited supply of hope and have their strength renewed.

#3 “patient in affliction,” “In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Christians should not be surprised when they are afflicted. The New Testament authors and Jesus himself never shied away from admitting the fact. Times of affliction are the best opportunities to learn the patience that is the fruit of the Spirit and of abiding in Christ. We will be tested in the “furnace of affliction” for our refinement and conformity into the image of Christ (Isa 48:10). We are blessed if we patiently endure it.

#4 “faithful in prayer.” God is faithful to us. His nature never changes. His promises never fail. His call to us is to walk in faithfulness towards him and to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17). Those who seek to be faithful to him who is faithful to us will live out this faithfulness in prayer. Prayer is our great calling and privilege as we are allowed to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb 4:18). If we are faithful in prayer, we will find the patience to endure, and the joy promised in Christ.

NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

NLT Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

ESV Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

KJV Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

NKJV Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.