Romans 5:3-4, Out of Them All the Lord Delivered Me

Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

When God sends us affliction, He also supplies us His grace to bear under it. The test is to keep faith and trust God. To keep praying and leaning upon His promises. It is a time where virtue in the believer’s life is formed. The strength to endure and not give up comes from God. He supplies the strength. We keep trusting Him. Deliverance will surely come! And we learn that we are not alone in our affliction. God is with us.

There is a spiritual strength that subsists in affliction. A strength that comes from within. This word “experience” means “to be approved”. When we keep walking with God, He sees us through that affliction. We can understand in our heart that God is working in and through us. And we experience victory with Christ. Victory to overcome sin, to say “no” to temptation, to live a holy life, to keep faith before God and man. And experience gives us hope, a boldness to keep trusting God and experiencing His grace in our lives.

This was the apostle Paul’s testimony gave toward the close of his life in  2 Timothy 3:10-11 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 

This was the life of Abraham, of Moses, of Daniel, of Joseph, of Ezra, of Nehemiah. Each one had their fair share of affliction. Yet, each testifies of the grace of God in bringing them through yet another impasse.

Dear brethren, are you in some affliction? May God strength you with His might to persevere. Amen.