HOLDING ON TO HOPE
Romans 5:3-4
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
The very first day that I bear guided, I got myself turned around in new country in the far northern part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We tracked a bear deep into rock bluff area above Lake Superior and it got dark when we were a long ways off the road. I had left my pack at the hunting blind and my compass was in that pack. It took quite a while to get out and we only found our way but climbing high and listening for semi trucks. We spent a few hours lost, but it felt like days when I had responsibility for myself and another individual.
Long suffering is a fruit of The Spirit. But how long must we suffer, while we wait for things to turn our way?
There are many of God's people that suffered in the bible... Perhaps none more than Job... He lost most everything. But how long did Job suffer?
We know that it had been more than days. It had to be more than a month it may have been a year or more.
Whatever the length of time, Job certainly did suffer greatly. He lost 1000 oxen and donkeys, all 7000 of his sheep, his 3000 camels, most of his servants and probably worst of all, his 7 sons and 3 daughters. Finally, after all of this, Job was smitten from head to toe with painful boils which caused his skin to turn black and gave him a fever. Now that is real suffering.
So, if we're living in God's will, satan will not like it... He will do whatever he can to stop us from having an impact for the Lord. If we are fighting against God then we bring some of the conflict and struggles on ourselves.
But, there is hope because in John 16:33 we have a promise
33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
So how long must we put up with suffering? Until God has helped each of us to overcome as well. So be of good cheer, Christ Jesus has gone before and has already overcome this world on our behalf.
Last, remember this, " suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
There is hope!
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