The Road to Hope Starts with Suffering

³Not only so, but we^[c] 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. – Rom 5

²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,^[j] who^[k] have been called according to his purpose. – Rom 8

Suffering.   Not a big fan.  But it produces  . . .

perseverance; which produces . . .

character; which produces  . . .

hope.

The road to hope starts with suffering.

Even in the middle of suffering , God works the circumstances of suffering for good.  He works them toward hope.  The good that he is working in every circumstance is that I can have perseverance, character, and hope.  There may be no better way to get perseverance, character, and hope, than to suffer.

photo by elward-photography