Be Joyful in Hope

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:11-13 )

So I am guessing I am not the only that has every struggled with the idea that hope doesn't always feel like it is bringing joy. Otherwise we wouldn't be getting this encouragement from Paul to be joyful in hope. Apperantly, we need to be reminded that hope and joy are in cohoots. I have found though that hope is exhausting. Take for instance the hope of finding a good man who feels passionate about saving 'passion' for after he is married. Now if that isn't an exhausting hope!

When you are lucky enough to find a guy who thinks that way -you aren't attracted to him and shutter at the idea of kissing him. When you find a guy you want to kiss and more, he wants more and you want him to hold off until the wedding night. The hope that needs to be kept alive is that somewhere out there is a man who meets both needs -attraction and values. I hope the right one is out there for me, but I am exhausted from waiting trying hard to be joyful in hope.

We are stuck dealing with hard stuff here on earth, I guess that is why we are also instructed to be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer too...