“because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Romans 5:3-4 NIV
God doesn’t cause suffering, the broken world and broken people in it do. God doesn’t cause the suffering but He can use suffering to grow the power of perseverance in you. He can use it to forge the foundation of your character. He can use it to expand your capacity for hope.
If you let Him.
Suffering can produce hope.
How? Through our relationship with the Risen Lord.
The Apostle Paul talked about it a lot. He knew that suffering was a part of this life but because of Jesus, we have hope for today and hope for all our tomorrows.
To the new church in Rome, he writes,
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.Romans 8:17-19
Your days of suffering are numbered, my friend and they will come to an end.
Meanwhile, allow God to use it to cultivate your capacity for the glory that is coming.
