Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 8th March and for the week ahead:
  
Scripture:  

 'And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.'  (Romans 5:3-5)

Reflection

These are some of my favourite Bible verses, but they do read a little sharply in light of current events taking place around the world. Paul, the writer of these words, talks about “boasting in [our] suffering”. Different translations use the words “glory”, “rejoice” and “shout our praise” to describe the attitude to suffering. I don’t think anyone feels like doing that, whether the suffering is seen as big or small, because it’s all relative to us in that moment. The comfort comes in the next few words, a product line of improvements made between suffering and hope. We may have heard the phrase “character-building” to describe a tough event in our lives and so may feel negatively about the connotations of endurance producing character, but after character comes hope. A hope that never disappoints us, because it comes from God’s love, which will always be there, no matter the depths of our suffering. Take that love and reassurance with you into the week ahead. 

Victoria Bray