“. . .but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:4-5)
When we think about the past three years, we ought to take stock of the work the Lord has done in us. The faith and devotion of many of us increased as we were forced to look to him for strength and comfort. And many of us also found that we were instruments of God’s blessing to others, not just those in the health care professions, but we who are called by God as His children.
What we have experienced in our lives is confirmed by the words of Paul who, as we should recall suffered a great deal for the sake of His love for Jesus. He reminds us that our suffering produces endurance, character, and hope for we know that, despite the pain and suffering we experience, through the work of Christ we have peace with God, so we ought not to fear the consequences of COVID or any other suffering. And we ought not to be so alarmed by the violence and chaos that has disrupted the lives of so many. We are safe in hands of Jesus.
What we realize as believers then is the great blessing that has been bestowed on us by the Lord God Almighty: grace and mercy through faith in Jesus. Christ died to justify us, to make us righteous before the Father so that we may be saved from God’s justice and escape His wrath against sin. When we suffer we can run to Jesus in prayer for wisdom, strength, comfort, and relief. When we suffer we have faith and trust that the Lord is using our suffering to produce godliness in us. Our suffering is never in vain. The Lord uses it for His glory, to build us up into the image of Christ.