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Not
only that but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that sufferings produce
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 (ESV)
Paul gives the Roman
Christians sage wisdom in this passage.
“we rejoice in our
sufferings,”
Wait a minute! None of us
like to rejoice when we are ill. I, personally, didn’t rejoice when I severely
broke my ankle and was out of commission for almost five months. No one enjoys
being ill or incapacitated.
“sufferings produce
endurance,”
When we experience
difficulties of health crises, interpersonal issues, or financial backsets, we
learn to weather the storm and wait for the situation to get better or we find
a ‘new normal’. This is called endurance.
“endurance produces
character”
When we wait out the issues
that lay before us, we find we have unknown strength. We become different
people because of these new strengths.
“character produces hope,”
When our character and that
new strength takes hold of our hearts, we begin to see things in a better light
than before. We have a better rein on our emotions.
“hope does not put us to
shame,”
Hope brings a positive
outlook of our future. It causes people to have better feelings about their
futures and what comes into their daily lives. Believers in Christ know that
God is in control of all the circumstances of their lives.
“God’s love has been poured
into our hearts”
We receive God’s love when
we ask Jesus into our hearts and lives. We become His vessels, His representatives
here on earth.
“through the Holy Spirit who
has been given to us.”
God’s work in this age is
done by the person He sent to us after He received Jesus back into heaven. The
Holy Spirit guides us through our lives as we go through each day.