Romans 5:3-5
One passage that is very appropriate to consider on the subject of remembering the Lord’s past mercies and provisions (and reminding yourself that He is capable of meeting all your present and future needs) is:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The above verses state that tribulations (pressures, troubles, afflictions) work patience. (Worketh is present tense, which means continually works.) The word patience in the KJV means "cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy; to stay under, remain, to bear trials, have fortitude, persevere." As we go through trials, we learn to endure them and persevere through them.
Why? Because patience works experience. Experience here means "trial, proof, test; by implication, trustiness." The more trials we experience, the more we learn to prove God, to put Him to the test and see Him work in our lives.
And lastly, experience works hope. Hope in the Bible does not mean "maybe it might happen, or I wish it would." Hope, according to the Bible, is "to anticipate (usually with pleasure); expectation or confidence." Basically, "confident expectation." Because we have seen the Lord work through our previous trials, because we have seen Him fulfill His promises and provide our needs, because we have received His perfect peace and all the grace that we needed in the past (if we stayed focussed on Jesus), we can endure through the current trials, and confidently expect that He is providently working all things out in our lives, for our good and for His glory!
Is God limited? Only by our unbelief!
Taken from the study, Is God Limited By Our Past?
Study written May 20th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey
By Jerry Bouey
5 comments:
Acts 14:22 / Philippians 4:13 - Amen.
To think those verses start of by saying, "...we glory in tribulations..." Wow!
Oh how important it is to understand the importance of trials!
Good post Bro.
(I have been gone for a few days, but am back now.)
This was excellent, Bro. Jerry. It goes right along with day 2 of the series on discouragement I've been working on. Amen and amen!
It sounds to me like you, Sis. Kate and I are all thinking on this thing of discouragment or trials. Once I started the study on the Fruit of the Spirit I began to be attacked and tested in those areas to see how badly I want it. It was a week and a half of attacks from family outside the home and even one church member. It hurt and upset me till I discovered what was going on. God used it in my life and I thank Him for allowing it. I know I'm not Spirit-filled yet. But God knows my heart that I want to be and I know that He is trying to get me there. Just please pray for me. I have a habit of letting self and feelings get in the way. It is all about choices that I make and each time I'm tested lately it seems I fail those tests. And that is hard to accept.
Thank you all for posting your comments. I do appreciate the feedback.
Sis. Julie, I certainly will continue to keep you in my prayers. Perhaps the next two entries in my blog (on overcoming depression) would be a blessing to you. Whether dealing with depression, discouragement, or just struggles in general, the principles to overcome are still the same. I find that often Scriptures I memorized in previous trials help me in future ones.
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