Lil Bit of Hope

This morning, I received text messages from two different people telling me some sad news. I'd already started writing, but I think I'm going to change up what I originally was going to write. 

I've been reading the book of Romans in my devotions the past week. It's my "go to" book when I need encouragement, a kick in the pants "spiritually," you name it...that book has it. I was reading in Chapter 5 last night. I mean, how often do we read a chapter, "know" what it's saying, and then move on to another passage? 

Last night, I think this portion of Chapter 5 just hit me in a new way.

 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. 

I love these verses. We can rejoice in hope of God's glory NOT ONLY THAT, but we can rejoice in our sufferings. Why? Because sufferings produces endurance. What good is endurance? Well, look at verse 4. Endurance produces character and character produces HOPE. We all need a little bit of hope in this dark world, don't we? :) Another verse that I love is Romans 8:28. "We know all things work together for good to them that love God." I was a senior in college when I finally figured out what this verse meant. "Good" isn't always a happy ending. Good is bringing honor and glory to God and that sometimes means hard times :) It's to make us more like Him. 

My dad always told me growing up, "Angela, you're always going to be tested. It's easier to pass the test the first time, instead of retaking the same test over and over again." Life lessons from my Pops :)