1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:1-5
There’s a quote from a Star Wars movie that goes like this:
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
Yoda said that to Anakin when he was a young boy, and we all know how that kid ended up. I think if Yoda pointed Anakin to the Bible instead, he would have learned the accompanying qoute to that: suffering leads to perseverance, perseverance builds character, and out of character comes hope. The hope that comes from God that is, the one that doesn’t disappoint.
In life we go through many tests. In traditional learning school systems, which the majority of us attended (i.e. had to endure), tests are the only method of assessment by which a student is said to have ‘learned’ something. However flawed, that system is still widely prevalent. The marks that we get determine whether we pass on the next level or not.
As we grow older, we learn that life teaches many lessons outside of school, and that testing is still a mandatory part of it, although they are very seldom of the objective paper and pen type used in the academe. Also, instead of being awarded grades or passing statuses, what we are building are our attitudes and behaviors. The way that we react to these tests, the choices we make when we are being tested, and the ideologies we choose to believe determine what kind of person we are going to be.
Before being a Christian, I was already numb to the challenges that happen in my life. Years of hiding behind a mask of cynicism made my heart as hard as stone, and my skin as tough as leather. I refused to get hurt, and so I did not let anything get to me, or get close to me. I didn’t know God back then, so I didn’t know when I was being tested, and certainly never learned anything from any situation that hurts me other than Danger: STAY AWAY.
Because I have certainly been through some hard tests in my life. The worst of them happened together almost at the same time. Looking back now, I see that at the very worst of those times in my life, God’s hand was there working, because if those things didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be where I am today, both location wise and in spiritual maturity.
Tests, trials, problems, challenges — all these happen for a reason. God wants us to build perseverance, to develop our character, and to strengthen our hope. We are able to endure all these things because of the strength that God provides, through the Holy Spirit that He makes available to us.
Besides, if all of life is a test, then it must be an open book one, because at anytime, we can open the Bible and find the answer to any question that might come up.
