There is often a mindset in Christians who see their self worth and value based upon work that such “stresses” are either “undeserving” or “a direct result of our failure” but Paul in Romans 5:5 offers a different view, they are to strengthen our “Hope”. Stresses cause us to reevaluate the motive behind our works and to abandon everything except resting in the “Love of God” which He has already poured out towards and continues to pour out towards us.
God’s love isn’t given to us in a trickle, it is poured out in our hearts. This love is ours by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. As such the lack of awareness of God’s love can be credited to a failure to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Spirit.
The symbol of the Monterey Peninsula of the California coast is the 250 year-old Lone Cypress found on the 17 mile drive. This tree has been painted, sculpted and as I can attest made into jewelry. The secret to its admired beauty is the wind that constantly blows as it produces an outward beauty as well as an inward strength. The root system of the Cypress goes deeper than any other tree in the state even deeper than the mighty redwood.
Dear ones if we want to be reflecting the beauty of the Lord He will need to sink our roots down deep and the winds of tribulation are certain to do just that. God puts us in fixes to fix us!