“Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer” (Romans 12:12, The Voice).

The more traditional ESV translation puts it this way: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

But I really like that hope is aways just around the corner. It’s nearby but always shows up unexpectedly. That’s how God is, always near and showing up in ways you’d least expect but in hindsight could not have been better.

Also, the hard times are coming. It’s not a matter of if but when. They will come. Jesus didn’t say that in this world you might have troubles. He said you would. But even the worst of the trials has an expiration date. But God’s faithfulness doesn’t.

To be devoted to prayer is to be intentional about it. For me, that means that I have to make margin in my schedule for prayer. I have to prioritize it above anything and everything else that could easily distract me and keep me from it.

But in all things, we’re still called to rejoice. Hope is nearby, hardships don’t last, and prayer still works. That’s a good enough reason to celebrate, I think.