"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Rom 5:3-5)
I've been reflecting on this Scripture the last couple of days. It's a well-known passage. A couple of years ago I began to really appreciate the truth and insight found in it. I saw the process implied in this passage. Suffering produces perseverance, which in turn produces character, which in turn produces hope. It doesn't happen all at once. When we're going through difficult times, at first it pretty much is just suffering. Perseverance then happens, not because we're so set on persevering, but just because the circumstances don't change, and we're forced to either persevere or to give up. As long as we don't give up, eventually through perseverance our character changes. We start to see things differently, act differently, etc. And finally, at a certain point, light breaks through and we find that we have hope where at first all we were doing was surviving. Then somehow it's all worth it, even though before we just wanted it to be over. And we find we can truly say that this has been good, even though it hasn't been fun, and even though we wouldn't have asked for the circumstances. We have a new appreciation for the sovereignty and love of God, and we are drawn closer to Him.
I feel like in the last week things have broken through to the point where I now have new perspective and hope, whereas before I was just taking it a day at a time and plodding through my residency. You don't appreciate the process when you're going through it, but suddenly yesterday I realized that the same sequence has happened again. Suffering to perseverance, to character, to hope. And now it all looks different.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
I certainly am aware that I have matured and become more "complete" over the past 6 months. The work of trials and perseverance (and ultimately, of course, of God).
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son..." (Rom 8:28-29)
Here is another well-known and often-quoted Scripture. But SO true! God is Sovereign, and all that He allows in our lives is to shape us more into His likeness and make us more into the people He has created us to be. His plans for us ARE to prosper us, rather than to harm us (no matter what it feels like at the time), and they DO give us hope and a future.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:31-39).
Amen!
