Glorying in Tribulation

We glory in tribulations also: knowing tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed… — Romans 5:3-5

I recently attended a weekly Life Group that meets in the home of one of our church members. The question came up, “Why should we glory in tribulations?”

While I was young, I never had a weight problem. But as I grew older it was easy to put on weight and get out of shape.  Several years ago, I decided to begin working out to take the “sag” out of my sagging waistline.  I worked out every day, sweating and straining, but didn’t seem to get anywhere.

Suddenly, my body I took a quantum leap and the pounds began to drop off and my endurance level increased significantly.  I read an article in the gym newsletter that explained the changes that were happening in my body.  While faithfully working out, regardless of how I felt, a whole new “freeway system” of small blood vessels and capillaries was forming within my body.  Finally came the day when they decided it was time for a “grand opening.” Suddenly, more blood came flooding into the muscle tissue, and immediately the weight began coming off and stamina increased.

Likewise, when we struggle during times of tribulation, God is building up a secondary support system of endurance. You may not even notice it, but you patiently endure the experience. Somewhere in that experience hope comes alive that God will not let us down in our tribulation.

That is why we can “glory in tribulations.”