The Attitude of Overcoming

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations;” Romans 5:3

Exult – In order to appreciate the paradox in this verse, we have to realize that the word for “tribulations” (thlipsis) is not about inconveniences. It’s not about daily annoying struggles or problems. This is a very strong word that means “crushing evils”. It’s the top range on the scale of bad things that can happen. Disaster, death, destruction, divorce, disease and a host of other things you would never wish on your worst enemy. But Paul smiles. These are reasons for boosting. No wonder they thought he was a madman.

Kauchometha means “to boast”. This is a very odd word to choose. It is almost always used in a bad sense, to self-glorify, to speak vainly of myself. In fact, in the Old Testament, the equivalent Hebrew word is used as a description of fools. Good Jews would never have expected Paul to use a word like this. So why does he use it?

The only reason Paul can use such a word is that all of the believer’s boasting is in the work of Jesus and the life in the Spirit. That’s worth touting! We, who earned no credit with God, have been lifted by God’s mercy into His very presence. That I can shout about! Do you want to know what makes me proud? It’s God’s hand in my life. He gets the credit for all that has happened to me.

Let that thought sink in a bit and you will see exactly why Paul can say, “We boast in the crushing evils that come upon us.” Do we boast because we are so resilient, so determined, so capable? Not a chance. Do we boast because we have overcome, we have escaped, we have won the battle. No, again. We boast because those crushing evils cannot defeat El-Shaddai, the God of all creation (go look at Genesis 18:14). Paul boasts not in the disaster but in the God who defeats disaster, not in death but in the God who destroys death, not in destruction but in the God who deposes destruction, not in disease but in the God who delivers from disease.

How can I not feel proud of the God who is more than able to handle everything that comes into my life? Why should I carry an attitude of defeat when I serve the God of victory? Where is the sting in those crushing evils if my God is the wonderful arranger behind all the scenes?

Is this Pollyanna Christianity? Not a chance. Life comes at you hard. But that isn’t the end of the story. Those who serve the Master, ride on the Master’s wings. The path may take you to the cross, but it will not end in the grave.