“ Not only that, but we REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, KNOWING {Fully aware} that suffering produces endurance, 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.”
-( Rom 5:3-5).
The Spirit of God who has been gifted to us assures us God loves us and wants us to be “fully aware” He personally “PRODUCES” “Good” from our suffering such as “perseverance- proven character- Hope- that will not disappoint because…” His love is continually poured out into our hearts. This love is not speaking of our love for Him BUT His love for us!
  • Suffering {thlipsis}- the word speaks of great pressures and used of a narrow place that “hems someone in…No place to escape.” It is used especially for INTERNAL PRESSURES that cause someone to be confined, restricted, and without options. We might say “In between a rock and a hard place!” It also is translated as “tribulations.” It speaks of “Crushing pressures.” 

 

  • The word “Thlipsis ” means to be burdened down. It means to be troubled. It means to be under severe stress.” Despite peace with God, the “war” being over and having access to God and standing in Divine favor having been “justified by faith through our LORD Jesus Christ,” Paul shows the child of God is not excluded from suffering! Burdened down, severe stress. 

 

  • He doesn’t say to deny the pain or pretend there is no heartache and heartbreak. Paul says, “Weep with those who weep.” {Romans 12:15.} He does not say, instead of weeping- deny it, fake it, and instead totell people to stop feeling their pain, and a false concept that if they really were trusting the LORD that they wouldn’t be suffering and instead  “Exhort those who weep to exult in their trials!”
  • His love for us brings about personal spiritual maturity, and suffering which should destroy us naturally in His hands is used to ultimately draw us closer to Him and DEVELOP our character!

 

  • And Paul says we “REJOICE- GLORY – BOAST- the word speaks of Confident joy- not in the suffering itself BUT what God “produces” from it! Itis “present tense” which says this is the life the follower of Christ is to live as their practice! 

 

  • It is an ATTITUDE that has a FOCUS on the LORD and what He “PRODUCES”-“ACHIEVES” through the suffering- tribulations, great Hope- the certainty of doing what He says, producing, achieving what He says in the life of the believer and this hope- confident expectation in the LORD will not fail BECAUSE the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been gifted to us to empower us to persevere, to produce proven character to produce hope because His assurance of God’s love for us our unshakable foundation! 
  • Suffering is painful- troublesome- heartbreaking so at times, “BUT GOD…” is up to Good and not even suffering will deter His plan for “good” and His Glory to come forth from your suffering! Count on Him!
  • You are NEVER ALONE in Your Suffering.
  • Your Suffering Is Never In Vain as you trust Him! 

 God’s Love  Does Not Exclude The Child Of God From Suffering- nor can suffering exclude God from His child  and developing their faith and character through suffering 

GOD Bless,
Aidan,