Recently I've been studying Romans 5 where Paul wrote that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame." One of my projects for this study was to list our trials and write how I've seen these truths worked out in my life in intensely practical ways. Here are just a few thoughts...
LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE
- Character Produced: humility, dependency on God and others. One of the first tasks in my life that I couldn't just make happen. Hard work, discipline, and a lot of help from others.
- Hope that doesn't disappoint: I do have a hope and I want people to have that hope too. This trial pushed me towards God and meditating on the hope I have and I believe He's going to give people here.
OUR LIVING CONDITIONS THIS YEAR
- Character Produced: thankfulness, patience, contentment and definitely endurance!!
- Hope that doesn't disappoint: a meditation that this world is not my home and that it's totally worth "this"--the roaches, rats, mold everywhere, non-western bathroom etc. --for the benefit of the relationship with God that I get to enjoy.
MY SICKNESS
- Character Produced:
Confidence in the Lord - He is in control and loves me.
Peace - I have peace w/ Him. Don't fear death or life-leave the future to God, enjoy what He's giving me now.
- Hope that doesn't disappoint:
Life is short, so don't waste it.
Talking to God makes you happy.
God is for me. Thru this I felt more love and peace and more hopeful that He is great and that relationship
with him is so satisfying!
HADASSAH'S CONTINUED PHYSICAL PROBLEMS
- Character Produced:
Trust - by trusting God my circumstances may not change but my heart does.
Humility - I became humble (realizing I am weak) and therefore he lifted me up.
Thankful - I become thankful and He overwhelmed with joy
Prayerful - I become prayerful and God continues to give a peace beyond description.
- Hope produced:
without being intimately connected with Jesus because only then can I have this lifting up peace joy.
This pushed me to memorizing Scripture and to have a passionate desire to pray, just to spend time with God.
I think praying with God privately is great. But also praying with others, my husband, my kids I found especially
enjoyable. I love dates with my husband alone; they are sweet and great for our relationship. But I also love
spending time with my husband with other people. That's how I feel with God. He made Himself to be enjoyed
privately and also in community.
WESLEY'S SICKNESS
- Character Produced:
supernatural ability to speak a language I didn't know and he answered. I was amazed and humbled by my
lack of faith yet overjoyed at his pouring out of blessing.
Peace - I thought Wesley had died and I felt this immediate rush of peace that it was okay
Joy - he didn't die, he just passed out...extreme joy!
Humility - I couldn't do anything but trust God and my new Indo neighbors.
Gratefulness - this trial gave us lasting relationships with our neighbors. This kind of closeness we could never
have imagined but God did it in amazing way
- Hope produced:
and that's all we need. When we try to access future grace now (ie, worry!) we can't and are left with anxiety;
when we try to live off previous grace we became discouraged; present grace is always enough.
He works miracles still. If he can do this, what can't he do? I was left feeling an unbelievable trust in the
Lord. He does great and mighty things because He is great and mighty!
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