Tribulation Produces Hope in Us
I was a bit shocked when I read Romans 5:3-5 New American Standard:
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
When I am going through a difficult time, it usually brings discouragement, but this verse says that difficult times actually produce HOPE in us… if we let it. When we are in tough times, most people make one of two choices. We either pull away from God, blame Him for letting us get in the difficult circumstances, or pull closer to God, seeking His help and encouragement. We can ask “Why?” and doubt, or we can say “God help me” and trust.
It’s a matter of persective. God’s or ours. We have to have his eternal perspective. God is preparing us for our eternal home. He may need to let us go through trials so that our hope is refocused on eternity not on temporal needs. Remember Job? see Hope Series-Part II (.https://mommorsels.com/2024/06/24/hope-series-part-ii/ ) God had SO MUCH MORE in mind for him. When Job was going through his trials, losing EVERYTHING, I am sure he did not think God was looking out for him. But God was looking from an eternal perspective, and knew that there was something so much more important at stake than Job’s earthly comfort. God wanted Job to truly encounter Him- and he did! James 5:11 NASB says:
We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
Yes, God is indeed compassionate and merciful! God is not satisfied that we remain in a state of comfort, because He wants to work something eternal in us! It is God’s compassion that leads Him to let us go through difficult circumstances, so that we can grow. Think back about a difficult circumstance that you have gone through-did it not help you grow in ways you probably would not have otherwise grown. I know that is true of me!
Hope does not disappoint us-when our hope is in God. That is so reassuring. We can always put our hope in God. Why do we hope in God? According to this verse, it is because He has poured His love out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that it was better for Him to go away, so that the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:7). Why? Because while on earth, Jesus could only be in a one place at a time, with a limited number of people at a time, but the Holy Spirit can be with many people, in many places at the same time because the Holy Spirit can even dwell inside of us. That’s why we can HOPE, because God showed His love for us through sending His son Jesus, allowing Him to die on the cross as a sacrifice for us, and even sending His Holy Spirit to live inside us!
So mom’s remember that
IF OUR HOPE IS IN GOD, WE WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
In His Love,
Suzanne
Mom Morsels 