Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…

Romans 5:3-5

Rejoice in your sufferings. I give thanks, and I am thankful. But I have struggled to find rejoicing, even though I sincerely praise Him through it. Jesus says, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward…” (Matt. 5:12 NKJV). Exceedingly glad. I hadn’t found that.

The rejoicing is because the suffering is producing endurance, character, and hope. I could see endurance and character. I prayed this morning asking to see how it’s producing hope, and Romans 8 came to mind. Paul talks about being saved in this hope, the waiting for the redemption of the body. Praying about that just now, the Lord showed me how it created the longing I have for HOME and how it keeps me set apart unto Him alone. A gift worth rejoicing over.

There’s a good story about this. Sorry I can’t remember who it was, but he was in prison and was being fed a piece of bread for his meals. He realized he wasn’t rejoicing and repented. He started leaping around praising God. The guards assumed he had gone mad and brought him a big meal to help restore him. It was a great reward 🙂