Trials - Perseverance - Character - Hope....

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)

Exult in what?? Oh yeah - in tribulations... Sometimes I get excited about suffering for Christ (in theory), but the reality is that suffering is suffering and its never naturally fun.  I think its easier when its a direct hit in a spiritual area because its easy to see where the attack is coming from - it becomes a natural reaction to throw on that spiritual armor and pray for God to be glorified.  But usually, its a bit more camouflaged - hidden somewhere between losing your keys, holding a crying baby, picking up the overly stuffed diaper bag and full day's worth of food bag only to realize that you still have to pick up the car seat and walk it all the way down the road where the giant truck that refuses to start on the first try is parked - and once you're all settled and tucked in, you realize you forgot your coffee.  Now that's a trial... I know it sounds petty and ridiculous, and honestly it absolutely is, but I found myself praising the Lord (out of obedience) through it all, because it was all a result of serving Jesus.  So Praise the Lord!  I know that daily sucking it up and dying to myself will force me to persevere.  I mean, really, there is no alternative - nothing in this life is worth quitting a life of serving God, so there is no option to quit - we simply must push on.  And in pushing on and persevering through the daily trials, my character is being built up and proven day by day by day.  And as I look back over those days, weeks, months and years, my hope increases as I see how faithful God has been to carry me through every single trial.  Surely, He will continue to carry me when I am tired, strengthen me when I am weak, feed me when I am out of money for groceries - why??? Because He always has!!!  This hope that I have WILL NOT disappoint, because it is a result of the Love that He has poured out in my heart through His Holy Spirit.  And where there is love, there is no fear - Because perfect love (Jesus Christ) casts out all fear.  Praise the Lord! I have nothing to fear, because I have Jesus.  I know that He is good - because His Word declares it is true and beyond that I have experienced it myself.  I know that He will take care of me - because my Bible tells me so (and because He always has).  So, what's a little rain that keeps me from going for a walk - Or a backache that will not go away no matter how many hundreds of IB Profin pills I take (not necessarily at once) - Or a baby that's sick and throwing up all over the place?  All these things exist to draw me closer to the Lord, to make me more like Jesus.  They might not seem spiritual in the moment, but these are tools God uses to bring Himself glory through my life.  Am I going to complain about them?  I hope not - at least not today anyways since its all so fresh in my mind.