Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only that, 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.”
We tend to think that once we start believing in Jesus, our life will be comfortable and smooth sailing. But that is just willful thinking. As long as we are in the world, we will have trials; we will face difficulties. But the good news is that we don’t have to go through them alone. Jesus is the Captain of our ship, and He will lead us to safety, no matter how severe the storm.
So why does God take us through stormy seas? It’s because He wants to mold our character to be more like Him. The trials chip away our rough edges, shape us and get us ready for eternal life with God. So the next time you are faced with high tides and crashing waves, hold on to Jesus. He is doing something great in and through you, that cannot be accomplished in any other way. When you endure your suffering with a good spirit, you build up your character and become a better person at the end of it.
This quote from Rick Warren pretty much sums it all up:
“God is more interested in your character than your comfort, and he’s more concerned about your holiness than your happiness.”
