Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
The question is, are tribulations, trials and persecution
bad for a Christian, and the answer is no. In Romans chapter 5 verses 1 – 11 God
describes a believer’s life; He also describes how He builds a believer’s
strength as a Christian into maturity. We must never forget that we are flesh,
therefore our abilities to comprehend and keep our minds focused are sometimes
hard. This explains why the Holy Spirit must bring things back to our memory. “…and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you.”
John
14:26 If we had a perfect understanding of God and a perfect memory of God’s
works then we would be in heaven, because in this flesh we will fail to
understand. For example, God said, “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28 However, do we really comprehend God’s thoughts,
powers, and actions in our life through this verse? If we had a perfect
understanding of this verse and God’s Sovereign Powers, then we would never
need the Holy Spirit to remind us that God controls every single aspect of our
life’s happenings. Do we truly, without doubt, worry, or confusion glory in our
tribulations in life? Do we simply apply the tribulations, trials, and even persecution
to the working of God in our life for a purpose He is applying for our better and
growth? Do tribulations in your life build patients or do you worry, and cry?
Listen to the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Did you know
that persecutions build strength in our faith in Jesus? And when these things
come do we glory in the Lord, we ought too. Listen again to the Apostle Paul, “Persecutions,
afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what
persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2
Tim 3:11. Now go back and study what events Paul is talking about, did you know
that at one point Paul was stoned so badly, they thought they was dead? “And
there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the
people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had
been dead.” Acts 14:19. But even though they tried to kill him, he
returned to do God’s work in those cities, why, “but out of them all the
Lord delivered me.”
In conclusion, one of the hardest things we can do in
life is to just simply trust that God is doing these things for our own good.
It is easy to forget the Sovereign hand of God is behind these things and panic.
In some way we all do it at some point, because we are not perfect, we all have
weaknesses. It is when God reminds us we remember and come to our spiritual senses
and accept that GOD IS SOVEREIGN, He has promised that EVERYTHING is for our
good, and that HE WILL DELIVER US. However, this depends on the strength of the
believer’s faith and knowledge of God and His word of promise, if a believer
does not grow much their level of understanding will be so weak, they may never
understand. A question we must all ask ourselves, do we know “that
tribulation worketh patience;” and that the harder the tribulations the
more patients it builds. Therefore, the next time tribulations, trials, and/or persecutions
come our way, even if we panic, let us remember “that God is building patience and
that He WILL deliver us. The question must be, HOW STRONG IS OUR FAITH IN GOD?
