Recently, I had a problem I just could not figure out. No amount of research, determination or elbow grease even touched on a solution. It seemed like there was NO solution! The harder I tried, with no answer, the more frustrated I got! Eventually I happened upon this verse. (It should have been the first place I looked before I got so frustrated. )
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
I am supposed to rejoice in my suffering…but rejoice and suffering do not go together! The verse goes on to explain that suffering has a purpose. It produces character, endurance and then hope. Hope is worth rejoicing over, but rejoicing IN suffering just doesn’t come naturally to me. Does it to you?
Maybe that’s the whole point, or several points!
- Rejoicing is a product of being joyful about something. We do not have to be joyful that we are suffering, but rejoice because the Lord has a reason for allowing it. We can trust He knows what He is doing, even though we are struggling.
- Hope cannot be found within ourselves no matter how hard we try to find it there. We cannot make ourselves hopeful by reasoning, because hope only comes from the Lord. (And He does not always tell us His reasons!)
- Suffering joyfully is not supposed to come naturally, but SUPERnaturally. It is the Holy Spirit at work within us, keeping us focused on God’s purposes for trials that makes us able to endure, have character and receive hope.
Did you ever have a problem with no foreseeable solution? it’s frustrating, right? That point, right there, where you come to the end of your ability and start to lose hope? That is where hope is found! That is where God can do His best work, if we ask Him to.
Thank you, God for loving us so much and for trials that train us to trust You more. When we feel human and do not understand, remind us with Your Holy Spirit that we can rely on Your wisdom and not our own, limited as it is. Thank You for loving us and giving us hope. Amen
I hope God blesses you real good with His guidance and hope! He loves you so much!
Christina
Glory in the Morning 