Things I Would Erase or Rewrite
There are several things in my life that I wish I could erase or rewrite. The first would be the time in second grade when I drew all over the walls of the Christian school I was attending with a permanent marker. Unfortunately during that time, Principals had authority to spank the students, which I learned firsthand. Or when I was older and I turned down the one guy who I would have had a great time going to Homecoming with, instead I went with someone who I thought I was “cooler” and did not enjoy my time.
I am positive my parents taught me to not deface public property and also they taught me to not trust what society labeled as “cool.” Unfortunately somewhere deep inside I did not take to heart what they were teaching. Many of us fall in the same trap when we study the bible. I mean Philippians 4:8 says to think on whatever is true, honorable, right and pure, yet millions watch soap operas daily and play music with questionable lyrics. And Ephesians 4:29 warns us to not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, yet we struggle with salty language and gossip.
But the one that gets to me is Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..
Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope…um Lord can I just go from bad day to hope? The word “endurance” means a long period of time. After suffering and endurance only then do you develop character which produces hope.
If I were an author in the bible this is one of those verses I would say “Lord are you sure? Is this what you really want to say?”
But God is Truth.
If you have ever sat with a loved one who has suffered from a disease or a young woman who struggled with the “long period of time” of infertility or a man who has struggled with years of unemployment. God does not allow these periods of suffering to go to waste; in the midst of the pain He is developing character and that character develops into unshakable hope.
Is it easy, no!
The good news is, if you have spoken with anyone on the other side of suffering; when they look back they can give you testimony of how God walked with them step by step and how their faith became the rock foundation that everything else rests upon.
If you are in the midst of suffering it is during that period you rely on God’s word—not your feelings—knowing that God will not allow this period of suffering go to waste. In the end, if you allow it, this trial will bring glory to God and develop in you an unshakable hope in Christ.
Heavenly Father, if there is a brother or sister out there going through a period of suffering I pray you will wrap them in your comfort today and develop in them endurance that only comes through the power of knowing Christ as their Savior. Amen
Amen to your prayer.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t see the light, but than I open up His Word and I find comfort.
Great message, girl. I’m learning in these hard times, I have to surround myself with His word and proclaim it constantly. It took me forever to learn about the power of scripture, but I’m sooo glad I’m finally getting it. Now if I could just figure out how to fold a fitted sheet…