I Rejoice In My Sufferings

Yesterday I was in the middle of a strong temptation. I was pulling out every weapon I had. I was meditating and reciting scripture, I texted a friend, and I tried to work on something else. Then a verse a friend mentioned to me a few weeks ago came to mind, Romans 5:1-5

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing 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."

I've read this verse before, but yesterday, it felt like I read it for the first time. As I was reading, it was as if God whispered into my ear, "Replace 'we' with 'I'."

So I did. 

"Therefore, since I have been justified by faith, I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ.

Through him I have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

NOT ONLY THAT, but I rejoice in my sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

And

Hope does not put me to shame, because God's love has been poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit who is been given to me."

This verse is so encouraging to me because it is in my trials that He is teaching me to endure through the temptations, even when they seem too much to bear.

By learning to endure He is producing Godly characteristics in me; obedience, submission, and trust - just to name a few. 

Through all this pain, through all this heartache, I still rejoice!! Want to know why?

Because through all the heartache, He produces hope.

Hope for future, hope for something better, and a hope in Him - My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for reading. I pray this brings encouragement to you.