ICS Daily Devotions
Tribulation Produces Perseverance

Romans 5:3-6 (NKJV) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

We learn through the writings of the Apostle Paul that he went through deep sufferings for the sake of the gospel. Sufferings which, by the grace of God, not many of us would ever have to personally experience. Yet he stayed resilient throughout his life, and we can detect no vibe of bitterness against God in his epistles. There is much that we can learn from Paul’s experience and convictions as we face our own challenges in life.

The foundation that we establish in our lives will always affect our behavior and reactions. If it is firmly established on the word of God, it would be a Godly foundation. It takes character, patience and endurance to be resilient in spite of all the different kinds of pressure that can come upon our lives. The wonderful news is that His grace is truly sufficient and He will always be there for us.

None of us are strangers to or forever immune from affliction, tribulation and adversity, in one form or another. And perhaps some of us are in the midst of a perfect storm right now which is stretching us to our limit. Many businesses and companies have been adversely affected by the pandemic that began in 2020 and some are still recovering from this crisis, two years down the road. And it is likely that ripple effects will be felt for years to come in all areas of life, whether it is travel, business, family, relationships or health. But we can trust that God will work our life experiences together for our good.

Sermon Series: Resilience