Thank God for your Everyday Problems

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT

Have you ever had one of those days where everything is going wrong? Your alarm didn’t go off, congested traffic made you late for work, you stepped off a curb into a puddle only to realize in your haste you were wearing two different types of shoes, and the ATM is out of order. How would you react to escalating problems that are piling up all around you with your day just beginning? The way you handle them will determine how the rest of your day will turn out. If handled correctly will also give you a firm foundation in building endurance and character.

Paul writes in Romans, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” (5:3 NLT) The apostle’s advice is to rejoice in our problems and trials. He is not saying we should rejoice ‘because of them’ but ‘in them.’ Rejoicing in our problems and trials makes us aware that they are there for a purpose. As Christians we know God always has our best interests at heart.

Working through trials in difficult times with the Lord’s help is what is best for us. It develops endurance as Paul noted and that leads to strength in our character. Suffering of any kind for believers in Christ is always beneficial and will produce positive results. When we learn to persevere in our small everyday problems as they mount up and become bigger, we will have the strength of character in the Lord to overcome them. Paul says our character also strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Thank God for your everyday problems, for He sends them to help you develop endurance and strength of character for the bigger problems in the days ahead.