What do you do when life goes a bit sideways, when you face trials, tribulations and problems?.

If you know Christ:
- You’ve been made right in God’s sight
- You have peace
- You are included in what God is doing
- And you are in a space of undeserved privilege

But if this is true you can imagine the believers in Paul's day asking:
- Why does life seem to have so much conflict
- Why is there so much division
- Why are we on the bottom of the social ladder?

Paul doesn't deny the harshness of life, Paul expects it. (5:3)

We should expect trials and we can rejoice in them

Trials have a way of building:
- Endurance
- Character
- and ultimately Hope.

Sometimes the worst things in life cause good, needed and even necessary growth in us.

Just because the trials we go though can produce something good, doesn't mean that the trials in and of themselves are good.

Paul is not saying that God preordains, sends, or is the cause of the trials we face.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Even though we experience trials, if we have faith in Jesus;
- we are friends of God,
- we are included with God, not excluded,
- we are welcomed with God not punished by God.

Say yes to Jesus even in the midst of trials, tribulations and challenges.

Say yes to Jesus by remembering you are a friend of God

What does saying yes in the midst of trials look like:
- Holding On during the trials

Endurance, character and hope get developed as the fruit of holding on/ not giving up.

Paul is not asking you to do more, he is simply saying by not giving up the qualities of endurance, character and hope are created.

Simply showing up is enough. Keeping on going is enough. Holding on is enough.

CHALLENGE
Remember who we are in Christ....you are a friend of God