13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
After all of Paul’s heavy thinking about salvation, faith and justification for all people in his book to the Romans, here in chapter 15 he seems to be overflowing with praise and prayer. In verse 5 he prayed for endurance and encouragement for the Roman church. Today in verse 15 he is praying for joy and peace that comes with believing.
As I reflected on the passing of my husband yesterday, I realized that faith in the face of death is quite a different deal than so many ways in which I have thought about faith before. I can tell a friend that I believe God will work things out for good and the other often responds with a tale of God’s faithfulness of how God helped that person through tough times. I am encouraged. Facing death though we face an unknown that noone has really seen the other side of. Christ is the only one who has come back from the dead to tell us what it is like. He did not talk about joyful reunions with friends or family that went before. He did not tell us about a joyful reunion with his Father. We imagine what death might be like for our loved one but faith in the unknown and unseen takes on new dementions.
Paul’s prayer for joy and peace in believing took on new meaning. There is joy knowing that wheelchairs and crumpled bodies are no longer. My husband is standing straight and able to run. His body is working even as Jesus’ body was working after the resurrection. I feel a new kind of peace.
Blessings as you ponder the reality of resurrection. May you experience joy and peace in believing.
On the Way to Wonder 