Sufferings are a means God uses to Strengthen and Increase our hope when we trust HIM!”
Just finished my IV… A bit painful, but got it done, thank God and have been laying here mediating on Romans 5… Here are a few thoughts I wrote down…I hope this will encourage you!
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know Suffering produces… HOPE.” -{Romans 5;3-4}
“Glory” means to “BOAST, Exult, Rejoice, Joyfully Confident” because we are aware that God uses suffering to produce something good and Godly in us and therefore can see it, though painful as a means to an end He has for us and so we can rejoice, not in the pain but in His purpose! “Hope” that is one of the ends He has in mind. Indeed, let us look and find a reason to glory in our troubles…
The word “Hope” speaks of “confident expectation!” As we go through a testing and we come out the other side still trusting Him, believing Him, praising Him, friends with Him our Hope is strengthened as we see our faith is genuine and strengthened Suffering cannot destroy the believers Hope! We may wobble in our faith, but ultimately we triumph through our faith and Hope does not disappoint us because HE IS OUR HOPE! “…Christ is our Hope”- {1 Tim 1:1} “Christ in you the HOPE of Glory!”-{Col 1:26} The hope, “confident expectation; that God who promises will do all He has promised and He cannot lie and we have a Glorious future to look forward to a Future Hope… and a hope that in our sufferings, tribulations the word speaks of “something that causes distress” we know what God is doing based on Romans 5:3-6 .. and we have HOPE in Him… He uses sufferings, tribulations in the lives of the believers one reason being,” We know sufferings {tribulations}… produces HOPE!”
The word “Knowing” means “to be fully assured!” He does not want us ignorant but informed, that He is lovingly at work!-{Read Romans 5:3-4}
4 MEANS TO STRENGTHEN AND INCREASE YOUR HOPE…
GOD USES HIS WORD TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR US;
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that THROUGH perseverance and the ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have HOPE .”-{Romans 15:4}
GOD USES PRAYER TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR US;
And what a wonderful prayer “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound {Overflow}in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”-{Rom 15:13}
GOD USES SUFFERING TO PRODUCE HOPE IN US;
“And we REJOICE {exult} in OUR Suffering {tribulation} knowing suffering produces… HOPE”-{Romans 5:3-4
GOD PROVIDED HIS SON WHO IS OUR HOPE;
“…CHRIST who is our HOPE”-{1 Tim 1:1}
THE – GOAL– IN HOPE?
One goal is that”…We BOAST in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” -{ V11} . That we may “EXULT.. BOAST… PRAISE REJOICE” IN GOD! God Himself the focus of our “joyful confidence” as the word “exult, boast” means!
Read Romans 5:3-5 and list out what Suffering, tribulation is PRODUCING… and thank Him and Trust Him, He is doing something good and Godly in your life! Your suffering, tribulations in His hands are meant to be spiritually profitable and they will be, as He works all things out together for the good to those who love Him and are the called…!” – {Read Romans 8:28}!
I’m glad to get through another IV and off until the next one on Monday, Lord willing… I honestly can say His Word has been a treasure to my mind during these year and which I am thankful, I can think on it and find joy from it, His gift of love to me and…you!
God is good!
Hope Knows and says…
The Future is Bright, for the future is Christ!