Romans 5:3-5: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Today’s passage reminds us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” These words speak to me because they reflect my own journey. Over two decades ago, I attended a military school where challenges were a constant part of daily life – early mornings that began before sunrise, gruelling drills that tested endurance, and expectations that seemed impossible to meet. At the time, I couldn’t see the purpose behind the hardship. Yet, through those trials, something within me was being formed – perseverance, resilience, and an inner strength that could only come through testing and uncomfortable circumstances.
Looking back now, I realize that God was preparing me for more than life’s physical battles. He was teaching me the spiritual discipline of endurance. That same perseverance has carried me through seasons of uncertainty, disappointment, and waiting – reminding me that hope isn’t forged in comfort but in the crucible of faith.
As I’ve grown in Christ, my hope has shifted from self-reliance to a deep trust in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12: 1 – 2). Through the Holy Spirit, I’ve learned that hope is not passive—it’s faith in motion, holding on to God’s promises even when the outcome's unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” Advent invites us to wait with that same assurance. Our hope is alive because Christ lives in us – steadfast, unshaken, and eternal.
Ikemefuna Odiachi