“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” – Romans 5:3-4
It’s easy to give thanks and rejoice for the good things in our lives. During the holiday season, we often think about and give praise for the victories, highlights, joys, and blessings we’ve experienced over the past year. But are you also rejoicing in your sufferings, trials, and tribulations?
The Bible consistently teaches us to give thanks and rejoice in the hard times, the lonely times, the failures, the sorrows, the defeats, and the long painful seasons. Why? Because these test, strengthen, and mature our faith. They teach us to depend on God because we’re too weak to keep going ourselves. They teach us (often on the other side of them) that God is always with us and always faithful, even when life hurts terribly.
Sufferings produce endurance and character that’s been proven. We know on the other side of them what we’re able to endure by the power of Christ. We know how strong our faith can be. We know how we can bring glory to God even amidst grief and sorrow. We know that God is good at all times, wise in all situations, and that Christ, our suffering Savior, walks with us, strengthens us, and sustains us through all our suffering.
Trials and tribulations, when experienced in faith, move our hope from heaven to earth and from people to God. On the other side of the desert of suffering, we discover that our hope is no longer in career accomplishments, educational attainments, financial milestones, or even earthly relationships, all of which can falter, fail, or fade away. Our hope becomes rooted in the beauty and wonder of our eternal inheritance in heaven, our unending future joy in Christ’s presence, and the certainty of resurrection on the other side of death and suffering.
Jesus generally does far more to develop our character and faith through hard times than easy ones. Take a few minutes to look back over your life and see whether that’s been your experience. Then take time to rejoice in the tribulations and sufferings that have shaped who you are today in Christ Jesus!