As I moved through the long line in the gowning room and was helped into my academic regalia for graduation to receive my Bachelor of Theology, I thought to myself, that I was standing where I had hoped to be. As the lady made sure my robes were adjusted and pinned and my graduation cap was placed on my head with the tassel kindly moved over to the left, ready for my big moment, I remember glancing into the free-standing mirror reflecting on the five years it had taken me to reach this point in earning my degree. In some ways, the woman staring back at me was not the same woman I knew five years ago. And yet, right in that moment, after all the hard work, perseverance and trials, I was standing where I hoped to be. 

The address given to all students in the ceremony was a call to arms, a charge to take what we’ve learned in our studies and to use it. It was based on the Scripture by the apostle Paul in Romans 5:1-5. ‘Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’ 

Synonyms for the word tribulation are adversity, grief, heartache, crucible, and misfortune. Hardly words that inspire you to stand where you hoped to be, right? However, the apostle Paul was speaking from a place he knew all too well, for his body bore the marks of suffering for Christ’s sake. Everything Paul went through, every trial and tribulation throughout his ministry, refined his character and developed a sense of promise that led him along the journey toward somewhere he hoped to be.

Don’t get me wrong, my studies were not all trials, there were many moments when I high-fived myself for a job well done. To be honest, I truly felt very privileged and blessed to be given the opportunity. Like Paul, who was called to ministry after his Damascus Road experience, he felt blessed to do the work God had called him to and did not take his vocation lightly. Paul knew the trials he went through meant he was anointed and had the power of the Holy Spirit inside of him that was rattling the enemy’s camp of darkness.

Because here’s the thing; you only become an overcomer because you’ve had to overcome something. You only get to rejoice in the tribulations when the trials have put something into your character that brings steadfastness to your faith. A tenacity that keeps praising God even when your circumstances say otherwise.

The apostle Paul was always looking to be standing where he hoped to be because he counted every trial as joy. He knew the testing of his faith was helping him to lack nothing. [James 1: 2- 4] Paul knew the tribulations were bringing him closer to God and that made the enemy mad. For nothing Satan threw at Paul was going to stop his mission.

Sadly, in our modern Christian culture, this message of standing where you hope to be is starting to lean toward a more palatable way of producing character, suggesting that feeling good about yourself and gaining everything you’ve ever dreamed of is how we stand in the place we hope for.

However, God’s ways are usually the opposite because He asks us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him so we can stay in the place we hoped to be. For it is the longevity of our calling that shows others God’s goodness and grace, as He leads us through the valleys so we can experience the mountaintop with humility and grace.

Now, adversity, trials, and heartache aren’t as cool sounding and catchy in the gospel message as ‘the best is yet to come’ and can punch one’s self-esteem right in the gut. However, as John MacArthur suggests, it can be where “some seeker-sensitive church leaders preach ‘get what you want’ rather than ‘give up everything’ style of message” that is very far removed from the one the apostle Paul preached to his audience. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad news because God does indeed bless and give us good things because He is a Good Father. For me, to stand on a stage in academic regalia whilst my family was cheering me on will be a highlight moment I’ll cling to for the rest of my life. I feel very blessed to be able to gain acknowledgement for my efforts, especially from my children.

But if I viewed my success as something I got to keep for myself, something that proved I was worthy of the world’s acknowledgement, I would be missing the point completely. For I would be standing in a very different place from what I had hoped for.

Because for me, every trial, setback, and tribulation leading up to that moment, saying ‘no’ to things I enjoyed, wasn’t a sign that I was heading in the wrong direction. It was in those moments where my character needed to buckle down and dig its heels in so that the ‘hope did not disappoint’ as the apostle Paul states. The purpose of all that character-building and perseverance was to help me write books that would shape people’s hearts and minds so that they too could stand where they had hoped for in Christ.  

Perhaps the thought of standing where you hoped to be seems too much to hope for. The journey you’ve been on so far may not have caused you to feel very inspired to hope for anything let alone to stand in a place you had always hoped to be. Plus, all this character-building causes you to question, to doubt and to wonder if God is truly for you.

Believe me, dear friend, God is for you, and the apostle Paul cheers you on too. Because, as hard as it is, tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope which brings you somewhere you never thought possible.

As I stood looking at my reflection in the mirror, pondering on all the reasons why I had been given the opportunity and privilege to wear the academic regalia, I realised I was not the woman I was five years ago.

I was braver.

In all the tribulations I had learned to deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow Jesus. I had learned, through every difficult moment, that my character had been built and strengthened so I was now able to abide in the One who holds me so tenderly, even when it feels hard, even when I feel anxious and I can’t see a way through. Jesus is the One who knows me inside and out, and that’s a good thing! For He is the One who picked up His cross and gave His life first so me and you were given a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). 

So, what is a Bachelor of Theology? Well, theology means the study of God, however, I believe, after five years of study, I “know a little about a lot” and I’ve only just scratched the surface of knowing God’s character. To the world, the idea of knowing God seems like a complete waste of someone’s time. Why not study something else? Something worthwhile? But as theologian A.W. Tozer suggests, “If we look at success from the world’s perspective, Jesus’ ministry was a terrible failure.” And I can conclude that when you read the apostle Paul’s letters to the Church, his ministry looked like a terrible failure too. 

And yet, Jesus’ and Paul’s adversity, grief, and heartache was the crucible God used to produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Trails in our faith walk will never be a popular message to preach in some Christian circles. However, it is where God produces warriors and world changers.

The apostle Paul’s message is the same to us today as it was in Biblical times. It is to stay focused, be confident, and do the work God has called you to do. For faith triumphs over trouble so God gets all the glory when we’re finally standing where we hoped to be.

Wendy xo 

Where has adversity, grief, and heartache helped in strengthening your character?