Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but 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 5:2-5 As I was reading this passage this morning, I was thinking of a couple of friends who are in the middle of one of those very very long trials of life...the kind where you just can't see the end of it. How my heart goes out to them!
I am studying Romans now and this verse just jumped out at me. I have been through so many long and painful trials in my life, as have so many others. It is one thing to thank God and praise Him in the midst of a trial...but quite another to actually thank Him for the trial itself.
From our human perspective, why would we thank Him for financial loss, a straying child, cancer, rejection, an eating disorder, crippling anxiety, or a miserable circumstance with no way to change it?
Only a crazy person would thank the Lord for 'fleas' as Corrie Ten Boom once thought. But a Christian is not crazy to thank the Lord for their trials--just obedient and full of faith in a gracious God who does not make mistakes.
We know our God is loving and faithful and would not allow a trial not in keeping with our best and the best for those we love too.Patience and Faith in God's love for you and His power to take care of everything are the critical need.
Patience is key. We don't mind short trials but the long ones make us doubt God's love don't they? Yet we are called to endure our trials patiently. Only the Lord can strengthen us to do this.
It is hard to imagine rejoicing in trials yet the Lord unequivocally calls us to do that. Paul does encourage us to rejoice in God--but he says that's not enough, we must also rejoice in our trials.
Why? Because they are working 'the weight of glory' in you and they make us poured out wine and broken bread for our brothers and sisters in Christ. They produce experience that you can rely on in later trials and that you can use to assure others all will be well. They produce hope that you can bank on for the rest of your life.
My response to trials now is much different than it was as a young mother. I know my God and I know He won't fail me or you either. I can wait for answers--as long as it takes because the Holy Spirit fills me with love and hope and truth. That is the result of enduring previous trials and seeing the Lord do amazing things in and through them.
Both my friends I'm praying for are going through trials I have been through too. These are trials that lasted months.. even years. Looking back I marvel. I didn't know how they would end. I never thought that my struggles then would encourage my friends now.
I didn't receive rescue right away--instead the Lord changed me. When the 'rescue' came, I didn't really need it oddly enough. I'd learned to be content regardless of the circumstances. But I had to 'die' first--to my rights, my desires, my solutions.
Dying is really hard. Being a living sacrifice is harder--but refusing to accept trials and the timing for resolution is much much harder--in fact it's just plain miserable. I think that must be why the Lord commands us to thank him for everything--both the good and the bad. It's an act of faith--one that often has to be repeated daily.
What do my friends need in the midst of their trials? Patience... and hope... and the comfort that only a friend who has been there can give.
One day, they will be the ones encouraging a friend to not give up, to not doubt, and to trust that them becoming like Jesus is reason enough to endure the trial and in fact thank God for it.
Praying for all my readers today! If you are going through one of those painful trials with no end in sight, just know that the Lord does indeed love you dearly. He's not deaf or blind. He's right there with you, like any loving parent would be. He will get you through this if you will let Him. You won't just survive but in fact you will shine and your testimony will provide hope for all around you. He treasures your tears in a bottle and is not unmoved by your pain.
You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8
There is always a purpose in the pain, so our greatest task is to endure patiently the work the Lord is doing in our lives. Your trial will produce glory for God and glory in you and hope for all around you. Don't give up on the Lord or yourself! He can and will carry you through this
