November 4th

Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not
disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:3-5

Suffering, pain, doubt and fear assault our attempts to be happy while we are on this earth. Even our best laid plans continually fall short of the mark. The Apostle Paul uses this backdrop to point out the reasons for suffering and pain while he was in prison in Rome.

We do not like doing something for nothing and we search for a purpose for suffering with the Apostle Paul. Perseverance is the result of suffering and when we persevere, God builds our character to be like Jesus. As character matures, we have hope in our hearts because of God’s love filling every crack and crevice. Love builds in us the character of God that spills out to those around us through the work of the Holy Spirit.