April 2
Tethered to Faith
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:2-4
Some days knock us flat like a Manny Pacquiao straight left. We all have those days that just start dark and go darker. On days like that, I think of Bono’s words in “Until the End of the World”: “In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, but my sorrows, they learned to swim.” Sorrows are resilient like that, aren’t they? Just when you think you have the buggers beat, another wave hits you.
In the husks of a man’s life stripped bare by trial, we discover the essence of his character. Consider Joseph, unjustly tossed into a pit, later a prison, yet each dark place became a proving ground for divine character forged in adversity. Or the Apostle Paul. Rome wasn’t kind to its prisoners, yet Paul writes from within its confines, boasting in sufferings that yield an unshakeable character rooted in hope.
God’s man, your identity is recast in the fires of life’s trials. The passage in Romans 5 above paints a vivid picture of this transformation, where persecution births perseverance, and steadfastness redefines our core, kindling an unfading hope. The principle here is the redemptive power of suffering when tethered to faith. What do our struggles produce? The world sees defeat; we see divine craftsmanship at work.
Our practice is to wear our trials as badges of honor, knowing they polish us into Christ’s likeness. When suffering knocks, let us respond with a resilience that confounds the onlooker and glorifies our God. It’s not pain for pain’s sake but growth toward a steadfast anchor of hope that will not let us drift away (Hebrews 6:19). Stand firm, then, in your newfound identity, not as victims of circumstance, but victors in Christ.
Father, shape our character through every trial, that our hope in You may be unbreakable and our identity in Christ unequivocal.
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U2, Adam Clayton / Dave Evans / Larry Mullen / Paul David Hewson. Until the End of the World lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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So I was born into this world already lost a twin brother. My father skipped town and was not to be seen from for 15+ years. My mother had remarried twice to two men who were not kind to a boy like me. Beaten, punished unmercifully sent to bed countless times without dinner, spanked over talked to you. Was Moved away at a young age halfway across the country away from all of my family, my protectors. Sisters, brother, all grow up and left me.. father eventually cheats on my mother gets another woman pregnant and out of all of the siblings. I am the only one who thinks of that child first over what my father has done because after all that is my sibling. Just recently they had a man’s baby shower.. diaper keg, I believe. And my father never invited me. All my other siblings have told him off and I am the only one who won’t cause pain is a hard thing to give back..defines us. but he wants nothing to do with me. My wife is often astonished how I’m able to overcome this kind of pain, remain a cup half full kind of guy.. truth is ive never known what it was like to have an actual family or What is feels like. I’ve never had a father who actually cared about me and said good job boy! My wife doesn’t understand why I stick around and try. I often question myself why, why put me through this? Why do I have to go through this? Why does anybody have to go through this? This is not normal. This is not OK. Why do I feel so conflicted. Tell I read this.. suffering creates perseverance, I know that wisdom comes through the father, so even through his lack of try the pain and suffering, he’s inflicted on me and my family a lesson is still there. I am a better father cause of those lessons.. I Believe that is character and a hard life created a good man! I hurt soo much, and this out it into prospective for me! Thank you for this devotion, amazing how right on our lord god is!
You help me, by just reminding me that there is always somebody that’s going through something more difficult than I am. On the other hand, it reminds I’m not the only in a fight.
Thx
Praise God that you have been led to this devotion and may you experience all the more healing, bro!