INNER STRENGTH


In Romans 5:3 Paul states that, running into problems and trials helps you develop endurance. The Greek word for endurance means literally "to handle pressure." Problems and trials are what some call suffering and it puts you under a tremendous amount of pressure, so Paul is saying, "Being under pressure teaches you to handle pressure."

You cannot be successful in any field unless you learn how to handle pressure. When we see Stephen Curry, or Klay Thompson, or Devin Durant sink a three pointer at the buzzer to win the game for the Golden State Warriors, they make it look so easy that we forget that most of us would crack under that kind of heat. You make the shot and you're a hero; miss it and you're an overpaid bum. How do
These basketball phenoms handle it? For them, it's all in a day's work. They have been in this situation countless times, and they have learned from success and failure how to handle the pressure of a close game.

In the story of David and Goliath, at first glance David seems to be an inexperienced kid who appears out nowhere to slay the giant, but that was not really the case. “But David persisted. ‘I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!’” (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

David could handle the pressure of facing Goliath in battle because he had endured similar pressure fighting lions and bears who threatened his father’s sheep. Enduring those pressure-filled situations gave him the strength to face the pressure of fighting Goliath.

You can rejoice in suffering because, at the very least, your problems will help you develop inner-strength. They make you tougher. God's presence in your life gives you the power to endure, and the proof is in the end result. When you endure suffering, you develop character; you develop staying power.

What good is suffering? Well, when you approach hardship with the right attitude you discover that suffering doesn't beat you down, it builds you up. It makes you stronger. God has the ability to take any trial or hardship or crisis or negative situation you face—and cause it to work to your benefit. (Romans 8:28) What may appear to be a curse in your life can actually become a blessing. (Nehemiah 13:2)

Nobody likes to suffer, and nobody in their right mind would choose to suffer, but followers of Jesus Christ need not fear suffering. In fact, when it comes, and it will come, you can rejoice in the midst of it, because the end result will be that you become stronger, and God is glorified in your life.

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