Romans 5:3-4

Romans 5:3-4 – “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”

One of my personal favorite verses takes a very bold view on how to handle suffering. Of course, we’re not being told to wish for suffering or to be masochistic, but rather we’re being explained the ultimate “upside” of the collection of trials we face in our lives. Much like the message in the book of Job, here we find more encouragement that not only is suffering a normal side effect of the sin that our first ancestors brought into the world, but it’s necessary for building character.

Don’t you love that word? Character. I will underline it anytime I see it used that way in the Gospel, because it’s one of my favorite parts of having a relationship with God. He makes me better. When we know God and properly follow His instructions, even through hardship we become better people, plain and simple. Kindness, patience, compassion, perseverance, peace – all of these virtues are things that we attain and help spread when we stay connected to God. When we suffer, we are tougher as a result. When we have toughness, we are able to develop our character through studying the Word and maintaining a relationship with Christ. How hopeful are we then that we are made strong within our own weakness? (2 Cor. 12:10) So, when looking at the big picture, we see that that suffering has ultimately turned into good fortune not only for us, but for everyone that we interact with. How powerful is that? That’s God.

The Lord our God is so wonderfully powerful that even in our suffering, we are being made better through Him. If that’s not something to rejoice about, I don’t know what is!

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