Today, let’s look carefully at Paul’s words…
Here’s that “patience” word again.
These verses give some difficult concepts to really get a hold of and understand. There is a two-sided reality to our Christian lives: on one side – we are growing and becoming more like Christ. On the other side (***but at the same time) – we have royalty status because we are sons and daughters of the King. So there is a constant tension in our lives; we feel the presence of Christ, but we also feel the pressures of sin. Even though we can have the peace that passes all human understanding, the sad fact is we still face problems—many problems! Amen?
By remembering this, we won’t grow discouraged as we face temptations and trials. We learn by trial and error how to trust and depend on the power available from the Holy Spirit. I love what the Bible Commentary says… “Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character, deepen our trust in Him, and give us greater confidence about the future.”
Paul says tribulation worketh “patience.”
Some say… So, I’m going through all this pain, and enduring problem after problem to develop patience? That’s hard to accept, I think I’m a pretty patient person already. That’s what the Word says – tribulations worketh patience..
He then says patience worketh “experience.”
Going thru many trials, and dealing with different circumstances gives us experience and makes us wiser. We may hate it (the circumstance), but our faith in God’s ability to fulfill His promises grows stronger.
And experience worketh “hope”
We will spend eternity with God. Christ is our hope—our path—to glory!