Monday, September 23, 2013

Growing in the Hard Times


“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV)

If I were to tell you in the midst of some crisis you are facing that you should rejoice in it because it is making you a better, stronger person, how would you react?  Likely, you would think I didn’t understand and you definitely wouldn’t feel I empathized with your situation.  

Yet this is exactly what Paul is telling his fellow Romans.  Our bent is never to see anything good in the midst of suffering.  We complain, wring our hands, and shed tears, but rarely do we rejoice.  However, often when we look back, having come through a very difficult time, we see how much we have grown and changed.  Without a doubt, I can say the suffering I have endured in my life has made me a more mature and godly man.  And while suffering is never easy, I think Paul is saying that hope can keep us putting one foot in front of the other as we walk through it.  

I came to realize a long time ago that if you are going to go through something very difficult, you might as well learn something through it. Otherwise, not only is it a painful experience, it is a wasted one as well. 

As Paul says later in his letter to the Romans (8:28), God works everything together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  Not that everything is good, but He will take whatever happens in your life and bring good out of it—including suffering.   

Today, if you are going through a difficult time, ask the Lord to teach you through it what you need to learn.  While it may be hard right now, He is there with you, and you can come through it closer to becoming the person He created you to be.  

© Jim Musser 2013

No comments: