Daily Devotionals

Lifeline Week 3: Thursday

And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 5:4

Not many of us would choose to feel lonely. Loneliness can feel isolating and sad. Loneliness can leave us feeling hopeless. While loneliness may leave us without hope, God never leaves us without hope. Even in desperate, lonely moments, God is still working and developing endurance in us, which is critical for us as we walk through the storms and difficulties of life. This hope that God strengthens us during hard times is a truth we must hold on to when we feel lonely. 

When we feel lonely, we need to hold on to the lifeline of hope. The apostle Paul wrote about the hope we have during difficult times in Romans 5. In this chapter, he wrote, "We rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance" (verse 3). All of the problems we face develop endurance in us. Because of this, we can have joy even in our trials. Then, Paul continued writing, "And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" (verse 4). When we go through hard times, we grow stronger and more confident in our hope in Jesus. Our endurance grows. Why is endurance necessary? We need endurance because life is full of difficult times. We face moments of great joy but also great heartache during life. We need the endurance to walk through difficult times. 

None of us like to feel lonely, yet, as disheartening as loneliness can feel, God can always use loneliness to strengthen us. When we walk through the heartache of loneliness, we can be confident that we are growing in endurance. We are stronger. Growing endurance is vital for us to be better equipped to face the trials that arise in life. Even more, we can have the hope that this world is not the end. If we place our faith in Jesus, we know we will have eternal life through Him. This, my friends, is the lifeline of hope that we have. Even in the middle of loneliness, you can be sure God is working.

Moving toward action

Sometimes we need a reminder that God uses our difficulties and loneliness to strengthen us. Memorize Romans 5:4. Let this verse remind you that God is growing you in your darkest, loneliest days. Because of your trials and difficulties, you are strong and resilient. You have faith that has been tested and tried and will endure anything.

Going Deeper

Romans 5:1-21

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.