Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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God has a way of turning things upside down. Christ died that we might live. And even our suffering becomes opportunity for God to work character into our clay frame. As Paul writes, suffering calls for some kind of response and, by definition, means we have reached some kind of limit and need help. We can do one of three things: (1) deny or retreat from facing the issues, (2) try to "self medicate" with our limited knowledge or (3) submit to the sovereignty of God who knows our situation, is eager to walk through it with us and will heal us to extend our earthly walk or provide the ultimate healing and open the gate and welcome us to Heaven.
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If we choose to submit to His sovereign plan, which at times includes suffering, our character is forged stronger and our relationship knit tighter with God, as He uses our difficulties to personally reach inside and touch us and walk with us in the midst of our difficulty. You can't help but think of the 23rd Psalm:
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Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
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blessings,
Rob Smith
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"Death is inevitable. Life is a choice!"
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
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