“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings” (Rom 5: 3). “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5: 41). Why were they glad? Because no servant is greater than his master. If you lose your life you will gain it. They were the disciples of that master who sacrificed his own life. Not only that, “ By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Lk. 21:19).

 

How do we look at the hardship we face in our day today life? How do we take them? How long do we praise God for these hardships? We might have given sound advice to those who suffer; we would have encouraged them. But how did we respond when we had to suffer? “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? "Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? (Job 4:3-7).

 

As a second step, the hardship turns out to be a path that leads to  the Holy Spirit, as well as  the love of God, but only when we exult in our hardship and praise God for the same.

 

SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE.

 

Suffering produces endurance. (Rom 5:3). Often God allows suffering in our lives in order to train us in endurance, because enurance will lead us to glory. Jesus admonishes Peter severely, when he tried to dissuade him from accepting suffering. (Mat 16:23). He reminds us that the path chosen against suffering is not from God, but from man. There is an answer here for the question, ‘Why does God allow us to suffer?’ He allows us to tread the path of suffering in order to develop goodness and virtues in us. It is our suffering that helps us gain authority over our human nature that is inclined towards sin. These sufferings enable us to listen to the voice of the Spirit, and have a victory over our body. It teaches us to control our emotions that lead us to sin, and strengthens us in spirituality. God tells us through the scriptures (Heb 12:7) that it is for discipline we have to endure. A young man, who constantly faced hardship and suffering, was trying to find out the root cause of it. The Word of God spoke to him thus, “Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.” (Proverbs 20:30).God allowed sufferings in his life because he was a slave to many bad habits which he could not shake off. God helps us to grow in goodness through endurance and this endurance will enable us to resist evil and gives us strength to do good instead of evil. Thus we will be able to forgive from the heart. It will also help us fulfill the will of God. “For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. (Heb 10:36).

 

ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER

 

Endurance produces character. (Rom 5:4). “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1). The tested character, we gain through endurance will enable us to keep faith in the Lord, without our hearts being troubled, in the midst hardships that shatter our lives. This strength of character is what was displayed by Daniel in the pit of lion, as well as ‘he mother and her seven children’ in face of death mentioned in the Book of Maccabees, and also the early Christians in the midst of persecution. Today, we see this tested character diminishing particularly among the youth. This strength is essential to stand up for truth and justice and also to fight constantly against evil. This tested character which we gain through endurance will enable us to distinguish what is love and what is not and restricts us from going after what is not love. ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.’ (2 Tim 1:7). Endurance will sanctify our spirit and facilitates God’s spirit to work in union with our spirit. Then what is revealed through us may not be our own power or love; it would be that of the Holy Spirit. This endurance will enable us to fight against the law of sin which is at work in the body.

 

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” (Heb 10:35).

 

CHARACTER  PRODUCES  HOPE:

Satan work in an individual by destroying the hope he has. ‘Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.’ (Rom 5:3-4). Man experiences despair over many things – failing in the exam, not getting a job, not getting married, for having been misunderstood by others, for being laughed at, for being isolated, for the financial ruin etc. I know a girl who was in 12^th standard became upset when she came to know that she was going to get a brother. She said, “I don’t want him because if he comes, no one will pay attention to me.” This thought led her to disappointment and disappointment to suicide. Minor problems in life, failures and ruins are the favourite instruments in the hands of Satan. Through all these, he will cause despair and he will establish his rule. God allows hardship in order to help us grow in hope. Very often those who lose hope run away from life. Responsibilities become a burden and there is a strong tendency to run away from everything. Therefore, endurance is necessary as we are not expected to be ruined by turning back, but to save our spirit by fulfilling the will of God. Hence endurance is necessary. “My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.” (Heb 10:38-39).

 

HOPE LEADS TO THE ANOINTMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

Why should we be hopeful? It is because the one who promised me is faithful “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful;” (Heb 10:23). “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." (Lk 1:45). This is the basis of our hope. It is to the heart of those who remain in hope that the Holy Spirit of God and the love of God will be poured. Without suffering we will not reach there. When we exult in the suffering, we receive endurance, produces character and hope. They will be the source of God’s love for us. When we receive suffering from God, they will turn into channels of God’s blessings. We will also realize that the most important blessing we receive through suffering is the Holy Spirit.