2024 Fasting Devotional

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.

Romans 5:3–5

It is counterintuitive to praise God in the midst of experiencing tribulation, but this is exactly what Paul is describing.  We have the responsibility to exalt God in tribulations. We must understand that we are able to do this because the Lord’s goodness isn’t contingent upon the circumstances in which we find ourselves, whether good or bad.

It is in this place of tests and tribulations that we are truly able to learn how to endure. The lessons that we learn here aren’t false, but they genuinely teach us how to lean and depend upon Christ in trying circumstances.

Much of our strength for this journey of faith can only be found in the time that we are willing to spend on this journey. No, there aren’t any special rewards that we naturally get for being faithful to Christ in tribulation for a certain period of time; but we are strengthened and the genuineness of our faith is proven after having the Lord bring us through many challenging ad difficult situations. We begin to know Him by experience in ways that we once only knew about Him. As this our knowledge of Him builds, we grow closer and closer to Him while learning to trust Him more.

As we learn to trust Christ more, our eternal hope becomes more and more real. It becomes more real because we will see the continual evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives, and we know that He will complete this work that He is doing within us. This is where our initial praise may be found—hoping in the glory that is to come, which far outweighs any of the trouble we have experienced during our stay here on earth.