Never Wasted – The Presidential Prayer Team

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. – Romans 5:3-4

In God’s economy, nothing is ever wasted. And, according to the Apostle Paul, that includes suffering, for it is but another step toward hope. While some suffering means enduring pain, distress, or hardship, facing daily frustrations, hurts, or fears may challenge your faith and hope just as much as undergoing severe persecution could.

When you look at whatever is troubling you through the lens of today’s verses, you begin to see how God uses everything. As you trust God through the steps in the process toward hope, He resets your attitude. What is it that He is teaching you today? Are you learning to lean on His everlasting arms as you endure? Are you getting a character makeover in some aspect of your personality? Remember what Peter taught, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Memorize and learn to rely on the many promises of God to sustain you through times of suffering. As you claim these for yourself, intercede for many in government who, even this present year, have dealt with serious illness, the loss of family members, or other life challenges.

Today’s Verse: Romans 5:3-4

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
²He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
³a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴He will not grow faint or be discouraged
    till he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his law.

⁵Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
⁶“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
    I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
    a light for the nations,
⁷    to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.
⁹Behold, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
    I tell you of them.”