Short of suffering

Romans 5:1-5:  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Justified.  Peace with God through Jesus. Access by faith into this grace in which we stand through Jesus. Rejoicing on the hope of God's glory.  Rejoicing in sufferings.  Suffering produces perseverance.  Perseverance produces character.  Character produces hope.  And this hope doesn't let us down, because we are filled with God's love through the Holy Spirit.


What a passage.  Sometimes I feel like Romans is so full of God's promises and plan and blessings that it is difficult to read; it's easy to miss some essential truth because it's so packed and so familiar.  For example, I am drawn to the focus of our suffering: the hope of God's glory. I think we often read this passage and assume the the suffering which forms our character and gives us hope is providing hope of something better or easier for us.  But the hope that does not disappoint is hope in God's glory, because it is assured.  God will be glorify.  Somehow, our suffering hones us but also finds its ultimate meaning in God's glory.  Sometimes I wonder what that will look like, when we are finished and look back over the pages of history.  How will the suffering of God's people hold a mirror up to God's glory?


It seems to me that while I may suffer from time to time, it is more often  that I face annoyance.  Irritation.  Inconvenience.  Sometimes I react worse to these than I do to real suffering.  I wonder why that is.  I mean, I know that real suffering hones my character and produces the hope of God's glory.  But what about when Lily goes in to play trains with Jack at 6:15 a.m.?  When things fall on the ground or the coffee spills or the dryer stops working?  It's so easy to become annoyed or frustrated or easily angered by daily disruptions.  So my question this morning is, Is there any way that these annoyances can shape me?  God, can you use them?

Is there any use in sufferings that fall short of real suffering?


I guess James 1:2-5 relates to this question:  ^"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  I still have to believe that James is talking about something much more difficult than what I deal with on a day-to-day basis, but I suppose the things that bother me can fall under "trials of many kinds."  Because even the little things test my faith.  Not faith that Jesus has saved me, or faith that I am redeemed by grace, but maybe my faith that God really does have a plan and purpose for every part of my life.  If I am quick to anger, is it not because some part of me doesn't really trust God?  If I am easily frustrated, is it not because I am relying on my own power, and not seeking the peace and quiet heart of abiding in Christ?  The irritations of life are one of the most useful schools of spiritual formation, if I will simply turn my eyes toward Christ.

Our hearts are idol factories, and so often the things that make us the most irritated and angry reveal our idols.  So, as I go through today, I pray I will have eyes to see my own idols, and a heart that trusts Christ in all things.