Suffering in Hope Romans 5v1-5

Buddhists believe that suffering is not real. Paul in Romans 5:1-5 does not deny that suffering exists, he tells us to rejoice in it. Twice in the passage, he says rejoice.

When I first read this passage, I thought to myself, Paul, how can you rejoice when you have not had steady work for 6 months. How can you rejoice when you know that as you cold call people, they will turn you away as you try to build a new business? I think Paul would tell me this: first, remember who you are. Not who you think you are becoming (Sometimes I think I am turning into my father). No, remember who you are today, right now.I am a person who has access to God, I am a person who is drowning in God’s grace. We who are Christ followers are people who are grounded in God’s grace. I am shown grace moment by moment, as I face rejection in job application after job application. I am still standing in God's Grace shower, even at my lowest point, which I will face today, when I receive another ten rejection letters and it feels like if I get one more I will explode. C5.v1-2 We all set up our lives to avoid as much pain as possible. We use things like medical aid plans, retirement plans and on a more basic level pain pills.All good things, but Christians know that we will suffer, but it is how you view that suffering that is important, for it is not without pain, but the key is that we are strengthened as we suffer by a loving father. Christians can rejoice in suffering because they know suffering produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope. The three step faith strengthening process. Growing in faith is a three step process. Suffering is like an incubator for faith. But that made me think, when I think of endurance I think of people who do things with sheer force of will. Like when I ran a 90 km road race, it was mind over matter. The sheer determination to finish prevented any lapses in my character. But that's not what Paul is saying in chapter 5. Paul is encouraging the Romans and us to endure and to build character during suffering. The emphasis is on hope. Our rejoicing in suffering is a product of hope, a hope that never puts us to shame. It is a hope based on God filling us up with his love knowing that we can trust him. All suffering must be viewed from the perspective of my peace with God and my current standing with God. Confident in the knowledge that his love is pouring into me as I endure. Have I ever really grasped how much love that took? Help me to rejoice in all you've done for me and all you are doing for me my father.

December 2020 update

Dear friends.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians4:7-9&version=NIV

To me this passage puts my present situation into perspective. We are not experiencing what a pastor friend says is Disney land Christianity. What has really surprised me is how much we think we are entitled. Entitled to "fair" treatment by God, we are vocal about the evil of prosperity gospel, yet in some way part of us is expecting comfort as our primary experience as a Christian. Secretly we all want the offer of prosperity gospel- comfort is our desire.

But as you clearly in the passage above and most of the experience of the disciples this was not their experience. So why do we expect or feels entitled to a "blessed" life? Repentance is and will continually be required by me.

So I have applied for  over three thousand jobs. I have more rejection letters in my inbox than spam. I have had two interviews and short listed for two jobs.

Also, I have had some success at in finding accounting and bookkeeping freelance work.I have secured a few more clients. I continue to network in this area.

Also a number of applications for ministry jobs overseas. This is only because I have this option and need to work. I am not angry or disappointed by SA. One application in Ireland has shortlisted me so we will see...

We have also applied for my specialist license that will allow me to drive for uber  next year.

Taryn is earning some cash driving school kids in Paarl. She also has picked up some good work in tourism only to have clients cancel after the presidents address last week...

I have a huge favour to ask I have set up a free training for servant leaders. I realise I can serve all those church leaders and NGO leaders I met in Africa with weekly short training video on my Facebook page and YouTube. You can provide some monthly support for this weekly training video on fundraising, accountability and donor communication. These are all areas I have experience in and will be helpful to Christian servant leaders. You can click the link below and support this project from $3 per month...

https://www.patreon.com/ifsgroup?fan_landing=true

Check this video out for more detail 

https://youtu.be/94RUXr4PphI

So we are hard pressed on all sides but not crushed

Please pray

For rent money we need at the end of December. We are about 3k short.

Please pray for strength to keep going...

Pray specific for a Job for both of us...

Yours in Him 

Clint