At the Right Time, Rejoice!

 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:1-6

This is all going to be in boring type, cause my computer is still acting up, and I don't want to give it anything too complicated to handle. 

So, over the weekend as I was away "Retreating", I meditated on these verses from Romans focusing on...

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. More than that, 
WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS."

because when we rejoice in our sufferings, not only are the characteristics listed in the passage produced, but the supernatural power of God is displayed all the more vividly. 

It's pretty easy to rejoice and say, "I trust God and His plan for my life" when we're all set up with a million dollar home, high-quality furnishings, great insurance, health and friends... 

But do we still trust, without a doubt, that God has a good and wonderful plan for our lives when we're
Sick?
Lonely?
Afraid?
Hurt?
Discouraged?
SUFFERING???

Do we trust? Do we Rejoice??
We should. Because His side of the equation isn't any different. it's one-hundred-percent perfect in EVERY situation.

I love verse 6 in the ESV translation, because it says, "while we were still weak AT THE RIGHT TIME Christ died for the ungodly". (emphasis mine)
You see, it may not have been at the time when the disciples were "ready" for Him to die, but it was the right time. It was God's time.

So I will rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation, constantly communing with God in prayer, knowing that His timing for every event in my life is part of His purpose and plan for me. (Romans 12)

And I will rejoice in Him.

While I was still weak, Christ died for me!
While I am still weak, Christ lives for me!

And because He lives, I can face every trial and loss. 

My hope is in Him. And I will rejoice!

You, O People put your hope in the Lord
For with the Lord is faithful love
and redemption in abundance!
(Psalm 130)


Rejoice in the Lord always, 
I will say it again: Rejoice!
(Phil 4)