I read about a study done some years ago with some Norwegian Warf rats. They took a group of them and just
threw them into some water to see how long they could keep paddling in the water. They lasted right around 3
½ minutes and then they all drowned. Next, they took a second group of the rats and threw them in the water
and just as they were giving up, at about the 3 ½ mark, they rescued them all. The next day, they took these
same rats and threw them in the water and at 45 minutes they were still swimming! The difference was that
these rats had been rescued the day before and, on this day, they had hope that rescue would come and that gave
them incredible endurance. That is not unlike what the Apostle Paul says happens to us when we run into
problems and trials…that they help us develop endurance. Each time we get hammered in life, and we get
through those times with God’s power and grace, something grows stronger in us. It starts with endurance and
then it strengthens our character and finally it strengthens our hope that God has filled our hearts with through
his love. Trials are never fun, and I never look forward to them. But as a follower of this Jesus of the Bible,
you and I can see God to use them to make us stronger with each episode. And we grow in endurance and then
in character and finally we grow stronger in our confident hope of salvation. You may not be very happy about
the trials that you are having to face today but remember that God will not waste this experience. He has
allowed this because they will be used to strengthen you and me and fill us with a most precious gift…hope.
And the hope that God gives us will not lead to disappointment…and we know that because we know how
much God loves us and are reminded of that each day by his Holy Spirit who was given to us when we received
his gift of love and forgiveness through his son Jesus Christ.
Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (4) And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (5) And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Remember I’m praying for you!
PJ
Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (4) And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (5) And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Remember I’m praying for you!
PJ