To encourage the struggling believers in Rome, Paul advises, “[let us also be full of joy now!] Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings”. Very few of us have learned to experience this level of spirituality as a way of life. To be told to rejoice in troubles sounds a bit ludicrous and doesn’t make sense in the natural; only in our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ will this truth be comprehended. Nonetheless, God desires to give each of us His unmerited grace, so we can continue to mature and move forward in our life’s journey. It may sound a bit extreme, but it is God’s will to develop a cleansed, holy people and transform His children into amazing spiritual souls! We will be the outgrowth of Jesus, called the Branch – we will possess his glory and his beauty. Even in times of trouble we can trust Lord Yahweh with our present suffering and future restoration. We have joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop patient endurance in us. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us! This hope will keep us from being deceived, because God has poured His love into our hearts, and we can trust in Him and what He is doing in our lives. The truth is this: God has the power to work good into our lives during times of the troubles and afflictions, that our soul’s enemy (Satan) intends for our spiritual demise. We can always trust in the wisdom of God- His love- and His power to create inner growth, goodness, and bring restoration into our lives! Remember, the Anointed One called Immanuel is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us!
“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance [fortitude] develops maturity of character [approved faith and tried integrity]. And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
