I’ve been a Christian since I was 5 years old.
The Bible is as familiar to me as the skin on my body and
hair on my head.
And yet, it reveals itself to me in new ways when I least
expect it.
I’ve read and heard Romans 5: 3-5 countless times. Although
I’ve read it many times, I never let it sink in until now. Verse 3 hit me like
a ton of bricks this week. “Not only
that, but we rejoice in our
sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance” (English Standard
Version).
Rejoice in our sufferings! What was
Paul thinking when he wrote this! That’s how I felt in that moment.
However, God gently…or not so gently, reminded me that Paul,
the author of this text, suffered much in his life as well, and yet he rejoiced.
And of course we know Jesus suffered greatly on Earth and then died for me (and
you).
So what should my
response be in the midst of pain, suffering, and hardship?
To rejoice! We know
what rejoicing through suffering does as verses 4 & 5 reminds us, “and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, 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.” Rejoicing in our suffering produces endurance, character, and
hope.
And yet, sometimes
it feels SO hard to rejoice.
To choose to rejoice
even when I don’t feel like
rejoicing.
To choose to let
this season of my life build in me character and hope.
To choose joy.
To rejoice.
But I will try.
I will try to hold
both suffering and rejoicing.
To know that they do not
have to be mutually exclusive.
To know this season will
not last forever.
To know that God is
with me.
To know that even
when life is hard there is so much joy around me.
To open my eyes and
see the joy.
Because as Paul
reminds us, “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.” (Romans 5:3-5)
P.S. God has also used
these songs to breathe joy into my heart.
