… we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

Romans 5:3-4

No one gladly signs up for suffering. Yet many of us have endured seasons of suffering, me included. In the season of your suffering, it can be hard to see that God is using it to grow your character.

We don’t often think of suffering producing hope. However, when we are in our lowest places, we must turn our faces upward to the Lord, in whom we can find the hope we are seeking. As we endure suffering with patience, we can trust God to use endurance to grow godly character in us, which will result in hope. We can have hope because God is shaping us to be more like Jesus in our trials.

If you are in a suffering season, remember that endurance produces character, which produces hope.

Sarah Geringer
Jackson, MO

Dear Jesus, may my suffering make me more like You and produce the hope I seek. Amen.

Reflect: Consider how a past season of suffering produced endurance, character, and hope for you.

Read: Romans 8:18 and 2 Timothy 2:3