How can Christians rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation?

It is only by means of this attitude that Christians are enabled to [r]ejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12). With this exhortation, Paul infuses the general appeal he made in Romans 12:11 with substance. How does a Christian avoid his enthusiasm cooling off? The key to this lies in constantly nourishing joy over the prospect of the renewal of creation as a whole (Romans 8:18–39). Once that joy fades, so does the enthusiasm. People are sometimes tested by various kinds of adversity. Joy remains when we endure the test as a challenge. Joy is trained by adversity. This does not happen automatically; in fact, it can only come through the power of God. The Christian must therefore persevere in prayer. We ought to pray not only in times of prosperity, but also especially in adversity. Persevering in this prayer for help from the Father will ensure that our joy and enthusiasm does not fade. And in that way the doors remain open for the work of the Spirit as well as the growth of love in our lives.

Paul continues in Romans 12:13 by writing that we ought to [c]ontribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Sometimes it appears as though the apostle Paul arbitrarily jumps from one topic to the next, but in this particular case there is a real connection between each of his remarks. Caring for someone in need and opening your house to those who require accommodation are the primary means of fulfilling the commands of Romans 12:12, namely to [r]ejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, [and] be constant in prayer. After all, it is far easier to preserve your joy and to survive tribulation when you are not focused on yourself, but rather on the needs of your neighbour. Proverbs 22:9 therefore states: Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.¹