Experiencing the love of God through training.

Through the training of life’s trials comes hope,

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts … (Romans 5:5)

Shame comes when mistakes are seen. So, I avoid risks. God’s antidote is to pour love into our hearts. His love overcomes shame.

Learning to depend on God’s love begins with –

suffering produces perseverance; (Romans 5:3)

Through suffering I learn to persevere in assurance that God will be there. Knowing his faithfulness, I wait for Jesus to reveal himself with his surprising salvation.

perseverance, character; (Romans 5:4)

Perseverance is a foundation on which is built character; as seen in the fruit of the Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control.

Confident in Jesus, there is freedom to behave well. So, character is developed in a pressured environment.

and character, hope.

The transformation of character to hope is the transformation from doing the right thing, to doing it with joy, in hope that God will cover the cost.

And hope does not put us to shame,

Expecting specific outcomes risks shame. Hope is focused not on outcomes, but on God’s love which triumphs over shame.

So, suffering with God we experience his love.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces … hope and hope does  not disappoint us because God has poured out his love in our hearts. [Romans 5:3]