Rejoice In Suffering? Why?

Through life I have wondered why people around me at times and even I myself do not exhibit more strength during hard circumstances.  Why we can not seem to endure well a season of trouble or heartache. What is the answer?  Is it better circumstances?  I don't think so.   


Life like anything is a process and it is funny how those that go to gyms everyday to work out enjoy putting there body through stress and resistance but when it comes to our internal fortitude we don't realize the same principle apply.


You see getting stronger and conditioning your body to be able to put up with more resistance in an easier fashion comes from making it go through resistance, not only that but doing it EVERY day and sometimes resistance to the point of muscle failure.....can you see where this is going?  Why then do we get so bent out of shape when we have to endure trouble.  I think God cares more about our ability to persevere than the size of our bicep, although physical exercise has its place.  You see people endure the pain of physical exercise because they have hope in the end result.  They know that the formula is:  

the ability to get up and go to the gym consistently 

+ 

endured discomfort and pain for an extended period of time 

= 

healthier/stronger body.  

And the most successful at this formula are the ones best suited to endure the most, because they know the process.  Can I briefly give you a biblical formula to living life well?  It has the same principles oddly enough. Romans 5:3-4 says,


 "...but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope." 


Do you see the process and the formula? It is:  

 get up every morning and enjoy the resistance coming your way all the while hoping in the result and trusting in your Creator and His plan 

=

the ability to condition yourself well for what you will face which is endurance

=

a life lived with increased daily character, problems are not as monumental as they once were

=

unshakable joy and hope is your final result

You may be reading this wondering why you do not feel any hope.  It simply may be that you have skipped some previous steps.  Rejoice in your sufferings knowing God is in control which is trust in the process He has set up, know He is orchestrating EVERYTHING for your good and that He cares for you. It will produce better endurance which will lead to character and ONLY THEN an extravagant hope that is has ALL been worth it.

Joel