I was reading Romans chapter 12 and verse 12 caused me to pause: “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer (NASB).” I reread the verse and noticed how “persevering in tribulation is framed by “rejoicing in hope” and “devoted to prayer.” Hope and prayer are a way to endure tribulations or trials.
Trials have a way of dragging us down, sending us into a pit of darkness. Sometimes it is not necessarily finding a way out of the pit, but bringing the light of Jesus into the pit with us. That is the “rejoicing in hope,” the hope that Jesus gives. It is the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” It is our hope in Jesus that helps us persevere in trials.
To maintain this perspective of hope in Jesus, we need to be “devoted to prayer.” If we are disconnected from God in our tribulations, we will find ourselves immersed in the darkness of hopelessness. Prayer, deep prayer that cries out to God with the hurt and emotion in our heart, gives us intimacy with God. It invites His light into our pit of despair. Devoted to prayer keeps the light present with us.
They have silenced me in the pit And have placed a stone on me. Waters flowed over my head; I said, “I am cut off!” I called on Your name, O LORD, Out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help. You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!” – Lamentations 3:53-57 (NASB)
140 Character Christian 
Amen! Through His Light, Jesus opens a path for redemption where we experience our own transformation.
Praise God for the light of Christ in our life! Blessings.
“bringing the light of Jesus into the pit with us.” – YES!
I am reading through 1 Samuel, with David being pursued by Saul, and being given up by Doeg, that dastardly Edomite. He writes psalms about his “pits,” bringing God in with him, and pouring out his heart to his beloved Jehovah.
Your Lamentations verse pairs perfectly with this.
I like David’s Psalms. They are so full of emotion, so real; spoken from the heart. Thanks for sharing that. Blessings.
God delights in giving us profoundly simple eternally deep life changing insights to live out his inner workings in us.
Maybe I should have just said “God loves renewing our minds”
Praise God that he patiently works to renew us! Thanks for the comment. Blessings.