3 But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Reflection
Romans is the work of a mature mind. It may be the last letter we have from Paul, assuming as many scholars do, that he had over two decades of teaching, preaching and writing letters to his many congregations. There were congregations that had Hebrew roots and others that began in Gentile groups. As I read these words from the Letter of Paul to the Romans, I realized that the formation of the Christian Church and theological conversations among the earliest Christians help us understand they were facing many of the same questions the Church still wrestles with today. What role does God have in our lives, in our work and in our play?
We have recently come through three weeks of celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympics. People of various athletic skills and nationalities competed on the world stage. Among those who captured our attention was the skier, Lindsey Vonn. As I read today’s meditation all I could think about was Lindsey’s “endurance” and believing that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
I wrestle with the faith that some athletes have that God cares who wins an award or a game. I believe that God gives people certain skills and passions in life. It is up to our free will, God’s amazing grace, our God-given talents, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit what we do with it. Vonn broke her leg at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She remained on the slopes for minutes after crashing during the women’s downhill final. You could just tell as she stood there that her Olympic dream did not finish the way she dreamt it would. She dared to dream and had worked hard to achieve it. Despite the intense physical pain it caused, she said she has no regrets. Lindsey said in her Instagram post, “Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. And similar to ski racing, we take risks in life. We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are
broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is the also the beauty of life; we can try. I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
Think about how this verse has played out in your life or in that of someone you know.
- How has God given you endurance to succeed?
- How have problems given you character and hope?
- Where have you witnessed God’s presence to continue trying?
- What people has God placed in your path that have helped you along the path to
success?
Prayer: Gracious and Loving Creator, I give you thanks for the various skills and talents you
have given me through the years. Thank you for the courage to try new things. Give me the strength to continue the journey when problems appear to de-rail my efforts. Help me recognize people who can support me when I try new things. And when all that seems beyond hope, thank you for the fun I have had while trying to succeed. Amen.
