Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

The Lord showed me how He allows Longsuffering to develop, strengthen and lead us to greater faith in Him.

Today’s scripture, Romans 5:3-5 (NLT), says…
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Consider…
Many people do some form of exercise to develop or strengthen their physical, mental, emotional or intellectual health. I will go a step further and assert most people are invested in their wellbeing.

A Google search for wellbeing returned…

It’s a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

I like this explanation because it talks about combining efforts to achieve a satisfying life.

In John 10:10 (NLT), Jesus said…
[10] The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Dr. Tony Evans teaches God wants us to experience heaven here on earth. Indeed, Pastor Evans Kingdom focused agenda is for us to help us understand that God wants us to live satisfying eternal lives during our temporary travels here on earth.

Dr Evans teachings remind me of the Apostle Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NLT), which says…
[9] But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [10] “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” [11] Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. [12] Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Verse 11’s identification of us as “temporary residents and foreigners”, hit play on Maryanne George singing…

This world is not my home
This world is not my home
I’ve got Heaven on mind
I can feel it in my bones

This world is not my home
This world is not my home
I’ve got Heaven on my heart
I’ve got Heaven in my soul

I hear people tell us to not be so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good, but I would rebuttal with Colossians 3:1-3 (NLT) expressly states…
[1] Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [2] Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [3] For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

We must maintain a heavenly focus in our earthly travail.

It’s with that Heavenly focus that we should view longsuffering as God’s workout plan to spiritual wellbeing.

Let’s look at God’s workout plan details, listed in today’s verses…

• Problems and trials DEVELOP endurance
• Endurance STRENGTHENS character
• Character STRENGTHENS hope

The Holy Spirit then connected another dot by reminding me of the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 (NLT), which explains…
[1] Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

So you see God’s workout plan that leads to spiritual wellbeing is problems and trials build our faith. Said another way, God allows our physical, emotional, and mental pain for our Spiritual gain.

A biblical example of this is the Apostle Paul’s conversion story. Let’s peruse Acts of the Apostles 9:3-9 (NLT)…
[3] As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” [5] “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! [6] Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” [7] The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! [8] Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. [9] He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

Notice, Paul’s spiritual sight began with physical blindness.

Next we read Acts of the Apostles 9:10-14 (NLT)…
[10] Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. [11] The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. [12] I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” [13] “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! [14] And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

God told a believer to trust Him and obey in faith engaging an infamous enemy of the Lord’s followers.

Who’s unexpected story does God want to make you part of for His glory?

Finally we read in Acts of the Apostles 9:15-18 (NLT)…
[15] But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. [16] And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” [17] So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” [18] Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

The Holy Spirit has always impressed upon me, before Paul’s ministry began, God told him he would suffer greatly for Him. Most of us see Paul as one of the boldest and most courageous spokesman for God that ever lived. Yet, Paul’s resolve was always strengthened through his problems and trials.

As a matter of fact Paul himself testifies in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT)…
[9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

You see it’s in those things that weaken us that we trust in the Lord to strengthen us. Indeed, what appears to be crippling physically is actually cultivating spiritually.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing, sometimes God breaks us down in order to build us up.

according to 24 Hour Fitness…
When lifting weights, muscles undergo a process of breakdown and repair that leads to growth and strengthening. This involves microscopic tears in muscle fibers, which the body repairs and rebuilds, resulting in larger and stronger muscles. This process, called muscle hypertrophy, also increases muscle’s capacity to store energy and improves its metabolic rate.

So the next time you’re enduring problems and trials, remember that God is just developing and strengthening your faith muscle for Him

Today’s song is…
It’s Only A Test

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)