Margin // Romans 15:5

Romans 15:5 | May the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another.

Today’s verse strikes me as I think about the times I need endurance and encouragement. Those are the times when my patience is also short, which is reflected in my mood. My prayers for endurance must also involve my capacity to do things with peace and a smile. My prayers for encouragement must also involve my courageous confidence to do hard things without fear. Taking this a step further, the times I know I need endurance and encouragement are when I’m my busiest and lack necessary margin. This is one of the primary reasons God rested after creating the heavens and the earth. It isn’t that God was tired as much as the Lord recognized the need for margin and wanted to set a model for you and me to follow. If God feels that need, then why do you and I tend to outwork the Lord? We can’t. Trying to do so leaves us exhausted and exasperated. So, if you find yourself praying for endurance and encouragement, look for ways to recover margin in your schedule. You’ll be glad you did!