Romans 5:3
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
The first verse of my Tecarta bible app verse for the day says we glory in
tribulation. I know I don't like to be in tribulation. My skin crawls at the
thought of it. On purpose, I find the spelling itself too long,
t-r-i-b-u-l-a-t-i-o-n. I mean who wants to spell that? Certainly, not me.
But it's time I guess that I realise that God brings
beautiful things out of awful things and that sometimes the way I want things
to look or work are not necessarily God's best plans for me.
So tribulation? It's not my best word. But I think if we can
get the concept out of Christianity where we think that we float on clouds,
strum golden harps and smile with halos hanging over heads once we get to
Christ, we would remember that many of God's most spectacular works didn’t have it like a stroll in the park. Three even strolled through a furnace,
literally- ask the three Hebrew boys.
I mean how were we supposed to see the fourth person in the furnace if the three Hebrew boys didn't first take the plunge? I mean how
would we have ever known or witnessed what God is capable of, if those boys hadn't kept
Faith no matter what?
Now, this verse in Romans says to glory in tribulation. It's
an admonition for me, honestly. Taking God at His Word is really just that-
take Him at His word. Why should that be so difficult?
Paul says, "we glory in tribulation.." If my
forebears glory in tribulation, then so should I. That God's way doesn't always
follow our ways is a given. 1Cor. 1:25.
So, I glory in tribulation!
I can just now imagine us of the Commonwealth of Zion with
arms raised above our heads, hands clenched in strong fists as we give Victory
Shouts, glorying right in the midst of Tribulation. I wonder why.
Why would we do that in such a time as a time of
tribulation, of all things?
Maybe it's because of the rest of the verse. You see all the aforementioned are true but this verse goes on to say "... knowing that tribulation worketh patience"
Patience? Yes, patience. The word of God says that tribulation works out patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.
In essence tribulation would eventually lead to hope. Can I say first of all that this does not make sense to me. My human mind cannot grasp it. How does tribulation lead to hope?
But then again, it's God's Word. And I know from experience that when I dog His Word and do His Word, I have peace and rest, blessed beyond words. Yes, even when my human mind does not understand.
So, I glory in tribulation. I know it would work out Patience in me. Patience would work out experience and experience would give me hope.
Yes, as unsavoury as it sounds to the human mind, I glory in tribulation. And why not? Only God can beat the human mind. Only Christ can bring awe inspiring, mind numbing beauty out of the most dizzying depths of the worst of troubles.
So, yes I glory in tribulation.
