In the book of Romans, Paul writes: “Be patient in tribulation …”

That’s not always easy, is it? Several years ago there was a story in Reader’s Digest about a car that became stalled at a crowded intersection just as the light turned green. Of course, the stalled car held up the line of vehicles behind it. Obviously upset, the man who was driving the car hurriedly got out and lifted the hood to look for the problem. As he did, the driver of the car behind him began honking her horn.

The honking persisted as the driver of the stalled car continued to search unsuccessfully for the trouble. Finally, he went over and spoke to the impatient motorist behind him. “If you will fix my car,” he said calmly, “I’ll be glad to keep blowing your horn for you.”

We can identify, can’t we? How often do we pray, “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now.”

“Be patient in tribulation . . .”

Some time ago, Gabe Goodman, the senior pastor at a church I once served, reminded us that the early Christians knew what tribulation was. They had suffered every imaginable persecution, but they did not give up their faith.

Some of you know what tribulation is as well. You may have had family problems, emotional problems, physical problems. And you have prayed, you have cried, you have pleaded for some kind of help from somewhere. It is awfully hard to trust in God at such a time as that. But, as the Apostle Paul knew, God is the only hope we have.

I pray today for you for patience: in small situations at work, at home, on the road, and for patience in the bigger circumstances that surround you. In your waiting and seeking, may God’s peace and courage fill you with hope.

Let us pray: Sometimes, O God, it is hard to wait for answers to our prayers. In our daily struggles, we need your strength. We need to be reminded that you are good and that you are with us. Grant us the patience and the courage we need for this day.  We pray today especially for the men and women who have served or are serving in the military – some of whom are truly facing dramatic tribulation. We pray with them and for them for your protection. And, we long with them for the day when all wars will cease and your peace will reign. Through Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Today’s message was written by the founder of Dial Hope, the Rev. Roger Kunkel

One of my favorite movies is “Forest Gump” which came to the theaters over 10 years ago. It literally took America by storm! Do you remember these Forest Gump sayings: “Stupid is as stupid does,” and “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.” If you’ll pardon the pun, I want to suggest that we need more Christian Gumption. The word Christian means Christlike, and the word gumption means boldness, courage, wisdom, resourcefulness, strength. Forest Gump has a simple faith in which he lives boldly. He lives life unselfishly. He loves people unconditionally. He trusts God unreservedly. That basic outline is not only a summation of Forrest Gump’s life, it also is a pretty good synopsis of the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

When Jesus says things, such as “Be humble-minded,” “Be obedient,” “Be merciful,” “Be pure in heart,” Be peacemakers,” “Be the salt of the earth and light of the world,” “Turn the other cheek,” “Go the second mile,” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” he means “Have Christian Gumption.” Be bold and confident and courageous and strong. Live boldly in the spirit of Christ and trust God to bring it outright. In other words, live life unselfishly! Love people unconditionally! Trust God unreservedly! Trust God.

Let us pray: Loving God of song and saga, of earth and history, we thank you for the rich heritage of our nation; for pilgrim’s feet and patriot’s dream; for fruited plain and purple mountains majesty, for universities and churches; for Indian and Scottish and Irish and Italian and Chinese and Puerto Rican and Slavic and Greek; for Protestant and Catholic and Jew, and Mormon, Amish, Mennonite, and Muslim. We pray for the dedication to keep the dream alive, the dream to deepen the sense of communication among races and individuals. Let the spirit of Christ unite our hearts and minds that we may praise you forever. Transform our attitudes, so that we live in excitement and expectation. Teach us to stand on tiptoe, listening for your voice and looking for the evidence of your presence, yes, even in our pain, our hurt, our illness. Anoint every listener with unexpected grace, especially those struggling to be whole. Bless us now so we may be a blessing to others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A young couple became concerned about their young son who always took his teddy bear to bed with him. As the boy got older they thought he should give this up. Finally, they asked him: “Why do you take the teddy bear to bed with you?” Without hesitation, he replied, “To have something to hold on to in the night.” In the darkness of our lives, we want something to hold on to.

What do you do when nothing seems to be turning out the way you had expected: What do you do when you gather up the bits and pieces of your life and spread them out before you and most of what you experience is pain and disappointment? Do you have anything to hold on to in the night?

In the 8th chapter of Romans, Paul affirms “Nothing can separate you from the love of God.” A broken home or a broken life cannot separate you from the love of God. Your past failures and mistakes cannot separate you from the love of God. Old age, broken bodies, cancer, heart disease, depression none of these can separate you from the love of God. That is good news! That is something to hold on to in the night!

God’s love will not let you go. It is constant. It is constant, not because of your faith, nor because of your strength, nor because of your gritty determination but because of the love, the faithfulness, and the grace of God. That is something for you to hold on to in the night!

Let us Pray Loving God, visit those for whom this day may hold special challenges: those facing hard choices, those persevering in long struggles, those undergoing surgery or treatment. Grant comfort and courage to these and may they sense your loving and tender presence accompanying them in the difficult moments of this day. Amen.

You are probably familiar with the famous Delaney sisters, who, at the ages of 103 and 105 published their first book, entitled, Having Our Say. In the book, they reported on their daily routine.

Here is what Sadie said:

“The first thing I do when I open my eyes is smile and then I say, Thank you Lord for another day …and then I go to Bessie’s room and try to wake her up. Sometimes I have to knock on her headboard. Finally, she will open her eyes, sometimes she will say, Oh, Lord another day?”

Near the end of Having Our Say, the interviewer asks: “Do you ever think about death?” Sadie answers:

“You know, when you are this old, you don’t know if you are going to wake up in the morning or not. But I don’t worry about dying, and neither does Bessie. We are at peace. You do kind of wonder when it’s going to happen. That’s why you learn to love each day, child.”

Paul says to the Corinthian Christians, “

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure…….” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-17)

There are ways to get it right, this business of living a human life fully and coming to its end in a state of grace. I believe that this God-given grace is the capacity to love and be happy; to think and to create; to serve and to care; to hope and to handle whatever needs to be handled. May God bless you in this endeavor.

Let us pray: You alone are my hope, loving God. Now that I am old and gray, God, do not desert me. Be present with me and share your love and strength with me this day. Amen

Sometime back, I saw a comic that showed two fields separated by a fence. Each field was the same size and each had plenty of lush green grass. In each field, there was a mule whose head stuck through the wire, eating grass from the pasture on the other side, even though it was hard to reach. In the process, the mules’ heads became caught in the fence. The cartoonist wisely described the situation with one word: “Discontent.”

How often, like the mules, do we focus on what we don’t have and we lose sight of all the blessings that surround us. Sometimes we come to believe that other people have it so much better, but the truth is, we all have our struggles. In spite of the perception, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Someone reminded me recently, “Joe, you won the birth lottery! You were born here in the United States into a great family, at a peaceful technologically advanced time in history. You have access to a great education and health care. You, my friend, like so many of us, have had a head start!”

It’s so true. We all face struggles and trials in life. However, at the same time, most of us don’t have to look far to see many blessings in our lives. Probably more than we could ever count.

Let us pray: Today, Loving God, we at least attempt to count our blessings. We have advantages that most people in history never had. We especially thank you today for the people in our lives who are close to our hearts. May we never fail to appreciate them, and may we never fail to appreciate your love, mercy, and grace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.