"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" - Romans 5:3,4
I have been thinking a lot recently about this verse. For a long time, I could not understand why in the world I should be happy about trials and hard things in my life. It just didn't make sense. But I finally realized that God's Word isn't saying that I need to be happy, necessarily, about the trials themselves, but that I need to be glad about what those trials will bring me in my spiritual life. I have so little patience. It is comforting and exciting to know that all the things (good and bad) that God brings into my life, are to teach me, to draw me closer to Him, to make me more patient.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers tempations: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." - James 1:2-4
There are hard times so we can learn to have patience. Then, patience will make us 'perfect and entire, wanting nothng.' How wonderful it is to know that the trials in life are not in vain! What a loving God we have, Who cares so much about us that He sends trials our way, so that we may grow! Who am I that God Almighty should think about me like that?
"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." - Psalm 40:5
"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." - Psalm 40:5
