Being resolute in troubled times ∙∙
Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. – Romans 12:12
Romans 12:9-21
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Mother Teresa: A Life of Love and Compassion
Mother Teresa devoted her life to Christ, dedicating her heart and hands to serving the sick and poor in Calcutta and beyond. Her extraordinary efforts to bring kindness and care to the most marginalized earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 2016, she became a global symbol of unconditional love, empathy, and resilience.
Despite the dire conditions she often faced, Mother Teresa never wavered in her calling or gave in to despair. She lived as a beacon of strength, embodying the mission of Christ by reaching out to those society overlooked. Her life reminds us that even the simplest acts of love have the power to transform lives.
An Ordinary Woman Who Did Extraordinary Things
Mother Teresa’s legacy is a profound example of how one life, lived with unwavering compassion, can impact the world. Mother Teresa was an ordinary woman who did extraordinary things. Her unswerving, triumphant empathy and compassion set a pattern for all who seek to live out their faith. She showed us that true greatness lies not in fame or status but in the consistent choice to love as Christ loves.
Her words and actions provide a window into what drove her mission. She believed that the greatest poverty was not physical, but emotional and spiritual. Her insights challenge us to rethink the priorities of our love and care.
Profound Teachings on Love and Giving
Here are some of Mother Teresa’s most impactful reflections and teachings about love, compassion, and the Christian walk: “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty – it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”
Mother Teresa gives us a glimpse of the whys and hows that compelled her. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” “Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
“God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”
These words strike at the heart of what it means to live with compassion. They challenge us to step beyond our own comfort to see and serve those in greater need.
Small Acts with Great Love
Mother Teresa’s most famous teaching continues to inspire countless people worldwide: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
She reminds us that the most powerful actions often seem the smallest. A smile, a kind word, or a helping hand can become a divine gesture when infused with love. “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
She called on us to reflect God’s kindness in everyday interactions: “Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
Faithfulness Over Success
Mother Teresa understood that love and faith are not dependent on success but on effort. “Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” “God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.”
Through faith and perseverance, she demonstrated that it’s not outcomes but obedience and love that make the most significant difference.
REFLECT & PRAY
Mother Teresa’s plea for unity through love resonates deeply today. “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Her wisdom invites us to take action, to live as agents of love in a broken world.
Father, the upheavals and tribulations we face often seem insurmountable. But with You, nothing is impossible. Encourage us to stand tall and never surrender. Help us to rejoice in hope, to be persistent in prayer, and to show unfailing love to others, no matter how small the gesture may seem.
INSIGHT
A Simple Yet Profound Formula for Living
The Apostle Paul condenses a life of faith into three essential principles in Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.”
These three elements are not isolated concepts but interconnected partners that shape a vibrant, faithful life. Hope fuels joy, endurance strengthens resolve, and prayer sustains us through it all.
Rejoice in Hope
Joy finds its source in hope. Joy is an outward expression of our hope and confidence. Confident hope stimulates joy. Paul calls us to cultivate a mindset of continual rejoicing, rooted in the certainty of God’s promises. Hope for the future enables us to look beyond our present struggles, bringing a profound sense of joy and peace.
The Greek word translated as “rejoice” is chairo. Chairo could be translated as “being glad, delighted, grateful, or happy.” The phrase in Romans 12:12, is literally “rejoicing in hope.” It could be paraphrased as, “Because you have hope, keep on being joyful” (UBS).
Gloom, doom, sadness, and fear are not intended to be permanent residents in the life of a child of the King. However, they do come calling. It is up to us to reject their lingering camaraderie. Hope, grounded in God’s promises, gives us the strength to rise above discouragement and live in joy.
Endure in Suffering
Life’s struggles are unavoidable. Barclay writes, “We are to meet tribulation with triumphant courage.” Cottrell observes that, “This follows naturally from the former; our hope-inspired joy gives us the courage to hold up under the afflictions of this age.” The path of hope the Father has provided is strewn with tribulations and afflictions. The real world is like an obstacle course that perseverance must overcome. By enduring hardship, we magnify the hope that fuels our joy.
The Greek word translated as “endure” or “persevere” is hupomeno. It is derived from hupo – “under” and meno – “to remain.” It combines the ideas of “standing firm” and “remaining steadfast.” This endurance is “not passive resignation but an active choice to remain unshaken in the face of trials.” It means to “stand one’s ground, hold out, endure trouble, affliction, and persecution” (BDAG). Barclay refers to hupomeno as “unswerving constancy.” As such, “it empowers us to meet challenges head-on and emerge victorious.”
Hupomone, however, extends beyond mere survival and endurance. Barclay explains, “Hupomone is not simply the ability to bear things; it is the ability to turn them into greatness.” “It transforms suffering into strength, making victory possible even in the darkest times.” Hupomone enables every child of the King not merely to endure adversity but to overcome it.
A powerful example comes from Beethoven, whose deafness could have stopped him from creating music. Instead, this setback became the backdrop for his masterpiece, the 9th Symphony. Despite the limitations, he famously declared, “I will take fate by the throat; it will never bend me completely to its will.” Beethoven’s perseverance turned affliction into triumph, inspiring generations with his resolve.
Persist in Prayer
The final piece of Paul’s formula is persistence in prayer. Prayer is the lifeline that connects us to the Father, offering strength, peace, and guidance.
The Greek word proskartereo is translated as “persist” or “devote yourself.” When used in reference to prayer, it means “to continue steadfastly in, to persevere in, to persist in.” It connotes a tenacious commitment to staying in close communion with God. This diligence is marked by unwavering effort and a certain confidence that God hears and responds to our prayers.
Persistence in prayer is vital, especially in times of hardship. It is through unceasing prayer that we gain the courage to endure and the joy to rejoice. Barclay sagaciously observed, “When we cease to pray, we rob ourselves of the strength of Almighty God. We should not be surprised when life collapses if we insist on living it alone.”
One bulldog of a man was the epitome of persistence and determination: Winston Churchill. Facing Nazi domination in 1940, Churchill inspired an entire nation with his resilience. His famous speech declared, “We shall never surrender… even if… this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire… would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World… steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
Churchill’s unyielding determination reminds us to press on even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Through hope, endurance, and prayer, we are called to live victorious lives, reflecting God’s glory in all that we do. May we walk in these truths today and always.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 