God's Glory Church

“Oppression brings patience, and patience brings experience, and experience brings hope.” — Romans 5:3-4

Digging through old letters, I saw among them an eye patch with the inscription: “I am undergoing treatment.” Immediately, a wave of memories flooded in. This bandage was worn by my four-year-old son, and then he was instilled with burning drops in his eye. He had weak muscles in one eye, so he had to wear a blindfold on the other for several hours a day so that the weak eye could work more actively and develop. In addition, he needed an operation. He courageously endured all the trials, relying on God with his childlike faith, although he sought parental support from us. Due to difficulties, his character gained stability.

People often change when they go through adversity and suffering. The Apostle Paul writes that he boasts about tribulations because “tribulation produces patience, and patience produces experience, and experience produces hope” (Rom. 5:3-4). Paul was familiar with trials. Not only did he suffer shipwrecks, but he also spent a lot of time in prison. On the basis of what he experienced, he wrote to the believers in Rome that “hope will not be ashamed, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (v. 5). The apostle knew: if we rely on Christ, the Spirit of God keeps our hope alive.

No matter what difficulties you face, know that God has poured out His grace and mercy upon you. He loves you.

How have trials and tribulations helped you to rely more on God? How can you entrust yourself to His care in what you are going through now?

Loving God, You promised that You would never leave me. Help me to hold on to Your promises despite all the trials.

By Amy Buescher Pye