Persistent in Prayer
Romans 12:12 -- "Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer."
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Eons ago in a big city hospital two men were admitted at about the same time with a terrible case of the flew. Due to a large outbreak the two were forced to share a room. One of the men - Joe - was in pretty bad shape. So weak was he, that he was resigned to lay on his back day after day, and night after very long night while his condition improved. But the other man - Bob - had the strength to roll over to his sides and even sit up a bit while his body healed. As luck would have it, Bob's bed was by the only window amid the bleached white paint and scratched tile floors. Joe's view consisted of the ceiling and the long tubes of fluorescent white light that flickered from time to time.
Poor Joe.
But every single day after a nurse brought the men their noon meal the two men would pray together. Then Bob would prop himself up on weak arms and arrange his starched pillows so that he could take a peek outside. To Joe's delight, Bob would regale him with colorful and vibrant details about the kids playing in the park below - or the flowers that popped out on the cherry trees. One day, after a brief shower, Bob described a group of pre-teens trying to splash one another by jumping in the steaming puddles that gathered near the dips in the sidewalk. These playful and delightful details were the highlight in each man's day. Bob and Joe would laugh at the dog that sprayed water all over his owner when he shook out his long coat of fur. They would wonder together at the young woman and toddler that arrived at the hospital every day at the same time. The window was a gift to Bob and Joe. It gave them hope.
After the days turned into weeks, Bob's condition finally afforded him a discharge and after praying over him, Bob hugged his bedridden friend and wished him a fond farewell.
As a sad silence fell over the empty bed next to Joe, he pressed his call button and asked his nurse if she could move his bed over by the window. It would at least provide a break from staring at the ceiling - even if he couldn't raise all the way up to see outside.
When the wheels on his bed finally came to a stop, Joe struggled with everything he had and pushed himself up just enough that he could peer out ever so slightly. But what view greeted him left him speechless and confused. Just on the other side of the window there sprawled a large red brick wall.
Before the nurse could make it all the way out the door Joe said to her "I don't understand. Bob described so many wonderful things. How could he have seen anything with this wall in the way?"
The nurse turned around with a knowing smile on her face. "Joe," She said softly. "Bob couldn't have seen anything, anyway. He was blind."
Bob and Joe shared the flu, true - but they also shared hope, patience, and persistence. The two men rejoiced in the hope that an imaginary view provided as they patiently waited out each long day in a dull hospital room. In companionship the two men fought their illness and persistently prayed with one another.
Pray without ceasing. Always. Our greatest defense AND our greatest victory is sturdy, steadfast prayer. 'Tis no small thing when someone tells you they'll pray for you. In fact, that's the greatest help a person can give to another.
Paul had it right in Romans. Rejoice in hope, he said. When the chips are down - so to speak - and things are NOT quickly set to rights, cling to the glimmers of sweet hope that are gifted to you - even if you can't see the end of the struggle. In Paul's other letters he reminded us to be content in every situation. Sometimes it's difficult to find contentment when you're smack in the middle of a deep heart-ache. It was so difficult for Bob and Joe that Bob created a hope for both of them. At times, we have to look closely and carefully to find the thing called hope. Rejoice when it is afforded. It is precious.
I thank you, Holy Father for every hope we have in You.
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