GLORY IN TRIBULATION
“… we glory in tribulation also knowing that tribulation worketh patience: And patience, experience, and experience hope.”- Rom. 5:3-4
Read those first words again – “we glory in tribulation”. That sounds insane – something a madman might say. Who in their right mind would glory in tribulation? To the natural man this just doesn’t make any sense. Truth is, it seems like something impossible for man to do. How can a burden be viewed as a blessing? Thankfully Paul doesn’t stop there and leave us hanging. He speaks of the benefits of such burdens.
Paul pictures the worst things in life as being profitable. And he does so in a way so as to not leave the impression that this is possible for only a few super-saints. He says “we”, so what was true of Paul was true of others, and it should be the norm for all believers. Rather than remorse over our trials we should rejoice that God will use them for good. And God repeatedly reveals the reason why.
There is so much information recorded in the scriptures about this that there is never any excuse for us being confused about the subject of suffering. While there are many mysteries about this that we cannot comprehend, we know that when we enter into the presence of the Lord we will see the complete picture and understand clearly.
Until then we need to rest assured that there was some divinely appointed good in even the worst of our experiences. Knowing that’s true helps us deal with difficulties. He whose eye is on the sparrow is watching over you and He will never put more on you than what His grace will enable you to bear. Knowing we serve a God like that give us a reason to rejoice regardless of circumstances. —HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx.
