Firm Foundation
Romans 5:1-5 (ESV) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
The truth is that hope is built in us over time. Take a glance at the graphic below:
At the beginning of the fifth chapter of Romans, Paul shows us a clear pathway to finding hope. The journey begins when we recognize that Jesus offers us justification and peace. Satan likes to keep us focused on the past. That is where we made some pretty big mistakes. Satan uses past failings to attempt to divert us from what God wants us to achieve in the future.
We need to be constantly focused forward. Once we begin to internalize what Jesus teaches us, we have a solid foundation upon which to build toward hope. I know, from my personal experience, that when I allow Satan to distract me with my past shortcomings, my foundation begins to shift. If we are to grow in hope, we must ensure that our foundation is formed solidly on the knowledge that Jesus loves us and has forgiven our past. He does not care about the past. He wants us focused on how He can use our past to minister to the needs of others.
Suffering
One of the things I have learned in recent years is that the closer I draw to Jesus, the more Satan attacks. It is easy and convenient for Satan to attack where we are perceived to be weak. He looks to our past to plan his attacks. His attacks are quick and insidious. Almost every time I am caught unaware, completely blindsided. Satan tries to fill me with doubt. The first attack is usually along the lines of: if God loves you so much, why is He allowing you to suffer so much? The answer is that He does not cause us to suffer, but He does allow suffering to happen. Some of the periods of suffering last a long time. Some of the periods of suffering are short but are stacked one on top of the other. Paul is teaching us that this suffering, assuming we keep our focus on Jesus, will build within us, endurance.
Endurance
Like an athlete, we make progress when we train. Training stretches us and causes us to grow in strength. For us, that training typically includes a dose of suffering. In this case, our spiritual endurance increases the more we learn to rely on Jesus during times of suffering. Great long-distance runners train by building up to their goal distance over a long period of time. They continue to push forward, but they also change up their training. They run different distances each day or week. And they take a break in between runs. This break gives them a chance to rest, recover, and nourish themselves. So it is with our faith. Our faith grows when we learn to rely on Jesus during our times of suffering. We must keep in mind that “this too shall pass”.
Character
As we are trained by our suffering and as our endurance grows, we find that our character begins to grow. Much of the endurance that is built within us through suffering is internal. We begin to change from the inside out. God wants His followers to be of high character. He wants followers who point to Him as they learn how to endure. Character is the outward evidence of the internal changes that have taken place, and are taking place, within the life of the believer. The more our endurance builds, and our character grows, the more the people around us will begin to notice the changes in us. Neither God, nor those around us, judge our character by what we say we believe. They judge our character by how well we walk our talk. Actions truly speak louder than words.
Hope
Notice there is a progression that starts with a firm foundation and ends with individual believers growing in hope. We do not become Christians and then suddenly we have hope. While this is true to an extent, deep hope is achieved as we take life one step at a time. We do not wake up and suddenly we have hope. Quite the contrary. True, lasting, deep hope is forged in the fire of living life. As soon as we identify with Christ, Satan puts on a full court attack on the faith that we have found. These initial battles build within us the endurance and character that produce the hope we so desperately want to find. As tempting as it is to want to complain and question God during times of suffering, resist. Satan and his attacks will never go away. That will never change. What will change is how you respond in those times of great suffering.
True, lasting, deep hope is forged in the fire of living life.
Application
True, soul deep hope is built in the fire of living life. Paul tells us in several places in his writings that we need to rejoice, pray, and be thankful in all situations (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Paul leaves no room for interpretation. All means all, including the tough times that come our way. As pastor Rick Warren says, we are to display this character in all situations not for all situations. We do not have to like all of life’s situations, we just need to remember to thank Him for helping us through these times.
Reflect on Job’s life from the section on suffering. Here is a godly man. A man who God identifies as devout and faithful to Him. Job has received God’s favor in almost every way imaginable. And then, in Job 1:13-19, in a single day he loses absolutely everything. He loses his possessions, his animals, his servants, and all ten of his children. I cannot imagine that kind of loss. Look how Job takes that loss in Job 1:20-22. He does not understand why God allowed everything to be taken from him. He loses absolutely everything, and despite what was clearly gut-wrenching pain, he worships God!
Study Thoughts
- Situation/Circumstance: How are you being tested today? Are you suffering? Take time to describe your situation in the space below.
- Grateful: Now take some time to think about things for which you are grateful. Take time to record your items below.
- Pray:
- Thankful: Start by thanking God for what he has already done for you.
- Confess: Admit to God the things for which you need forgiveness.
- Request: Let God know what you need, but more important, ask Him how you can be of service to others.
- Close: Jesus taught us to ask God for what we need, but to always ask for God’s will to be done regardless of what you think you need.
Pathway to Hope Study Guide
