Devotional for 2/15/11
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given ...
Romans 5:3–5
Are you going through a difficult period in your life? Do you ever cry out to God asking Him the most sought out question-why? We all have at some point, if we are truly honest with ourselves, questioned God. Our cries include, Why are you allowing this to happen to me? What did I do to deserve this? Many of us can relate to Davids cry, I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. And yet we serve a God who tells us to rejoice in these sufferings. How is it that we can experience a joyful bad time? The thing we need to understand is that joy and happiness are not synonymous. Joy does not depend on our circumstances, happiness does. We can go through the ups and downs of life experiencing the good times and the bad and continue to remain joyful. Why?-because it is not based on circumstance. So what is it that we have to rejoice in during these bad times-when we lose a close loved one; experience worry, shame, or guilt; suffer through a broken relationship; or maybe are battling a physical illness or disease? Where can we find joy when we want our life circumstances fixed or healed yesterday? We find it in the hope that does not disappoint. When we are in the midst of the painful circumstance it is very hard to see the hope, the light at the end of the tunnel. But God promises us that if we stay obedient to Him, the product of suffering is perseverance and character. These attributes produce hope. Allow me to encourage you this day to pray for joy in the midst of the suffering. Ask God to begin to tangibly show you hope. He poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Because this promise is sealed with the Holy Spirit, we do not have to be ashamed of our sufferings for Him, or of our hope during the bad times. In Christ's love, Joyful Bad Times
Written by Julie Clinton
Shared by Corinne Mustafa
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