Suffering Produces Endurance

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our hope of sharing that glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

When someone in Christ dies we should rejoice. They have gone on just a little before we go. However, we don’t always look at it that way. When someone dies, we sometimes feel left behind. But our suffering brings perseverance, which brings character, which brings us hope.

We feel helpless in times of tragedy, but we are never hopeless. God pours his love into our hearts – and with it the great hope of His glory. It’s all part of God’s mysterious yet marvelous plan.

God often digs wells of joy with the spade of sorrow.

Our Daily Bread – September 13, 2009