Romans 5:3-4: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Are you in a hole in your life? Do you feel the darkness closing in like it is covering you with a cold wet blanket? Are you asking God for help or are you blaming Him for putting you or allowing you to be in this hole? You are probably wondering, ‘Where is the hope?’ Are you ready for this statement? – You are in exactly the right place for you to find hope! This may seem like an outrageous statement, but please give us a couple of minutes to walk you through today’s Scriptures to explain.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote today’s verse under the influence of the Holy Spirit, was a man very familiar with being in the “holes” of life. His holes were caused by his persistence in preaching the Gospel to a Satan-led world that does not want to hear that message. Why? Because it offers good news – a promise of hope of being reconciled to God through Jesus and being given new eternal life. He put himself in these holes, and maybe you put yourself in your hole but not for such noble pursuits. This is not meant to shame or condemn you – we have all been there. The fact of the matter is that it does not really matter how you got in your hole. What matters is what you choose to do to while you are in the hole.
Using today’s Scriptures, assume the hole you are in is tribulation. Tribulations, or troubles, can be short-lived or can take a long time. The first step out of your hole is up to you. Are you going to surrender to the oppressiveness of your circumstances and let them dictate who you are? That is the easier way, but it will never get you out of the hole. Another option is to choose to believe you can learn from this time in the hole – to learn that God, Who did not abandon His Son after His crucifixion by raising Him from the dead – out of His hole, He will not abandon you in your hole. This is perseverance.
As you begin to learn of God’s character of strength, deliverance, and faithfulness, you discover that through the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you possess the same character of God. You are strong because He is strong. You have hope because He is hope. You can draw on the truth that with God all things are possible. This is the second of the three steps out of your hole – it is the revelation of having God’s character residing in you.
The third and final step is hope. The foundation of your hope is recognizing and believing in God’s faithfulness in never leaving your side and discovering the truth that you have God’s character in you that unleashes all things possible. You see that it doesn’t really matter how you got in the hole. What matters is you realize Who is in the hole with you – God – He is your hope.
One final comment on your time in the hole – the circumstances that have you in the hole may not change in this process of discovering hope. What has changed is how you perceive the circumstances. As the saying goes, ‘The problem isn’t the problem – the problem is how you respond to the problem’. You no longer are walking in defeat as a victim of your hole. You are now walking in the victory and hope of the One Who made you whole. Do you want out of your hole? Go to the holy One!