Joyful – Lent Day 16

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12                                                                                                                                                   
“Daddy, why is lent so long?”

This question is a common one from children as they experience lent and begin to understand the waiting process. How do we continue to be joyful and patient while waiting?

During one Lenten season, the children in our church each made “Hallelujah” signs and hid them in the organ gallery, behind the pulpit area. Their involvement in lent, prompted an excitement not only in the children but in the adults as we saw the children grow in understanding of Lent and waiting.

While we sang no hymns nor anthems with “Hallelujah”, we all looked toward the future with joyful hope…Hope for a day when the “Hallelujahs” would return!

This is the Joyful hope of Lent, always looking ahead, patient in our troubles and faithful in our daily prayer life. Lent is our time of preparation for the excitement and joy that is coming.

No matter what is going on around us, and no matter where we are at the time, we are constantly looking ahead. As followers of Christ, we are never without hope. (Farro, n.d.)

Your Hallelujah may be missing for a time, however…where is your Joy?

Works Cited

Farro, J. (n.d.). Be Joyful in Hope. Retrieved from Devotionals by J.M. Farro: https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/devotionals/bejoyfulinhope.asp

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