Glory in Tribulations?

October 13-15 2011 Bread Box

Romans 5:3 KJV
We also glory in tribulations, knowing tribulations produces perseverance.

I wrote about the ‘hope’ on October 12th and I use NIRV translation, “. . . We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down” (Romans 5:3a,4,5a). One thing I need was a story and I found it the next day. This story impressed me and I want to share this with you from “The Daily Bread” RBC Ministries booklet.

It was a story about a young teenager, Melissa, who was 17 years old. She loves to draw “Smiley Face.” While she would read her own Bible, she used a green ink pen to draw a small, simple face next to Romans 5, and circled verse 3. It means that this verse had impressed her. Then suddenly, the car accident had taken her life and left the family in suffering and the pain of loss. The father was telling this story of how he found his daughter’s Bible, opened it and saw Melissa’s smiley face in the margin next to Romans 5 and circled verse 3. The father said, “How could she know that these verses would tell her story, while guiding our lives and the lives of others over the past 7 years? Romans 5 begins by explaining our justification through faith, which gives us peace with God through Jesus (v.1). Melissa had that peace. And right now she is enjoying the fruits of her faith, as verse 2 describes: We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Imagine the smiley face she could draw now!”

The father continue: “And then there’s the rest of us, all of us left behind when loved ones precede us in death. Somehow, we “rejoice in our sufferings.” Why? Our suffering brings perseverance (patience through), which brings character, which brings us hope (vv.3-4). We feel helpless in times of tragedy, but we are never hopeless. God pours His love into our hearts—and with it the great hope of His glory. It’s all part of God’s mysterious yet marvelous plan.” (Dave Branon)

This reminds me of a song once sang by Johnny Cash, “We’ll understand it by and by.”

So trust the Lord to guide you day by day!

Dorothy