God makes us right, gives us peace, brings us into grace, and offers us hope for the future. Despite our own best efforts and mighty struggles, God is always before us offering us a hand and inviting us to take the first step toward “the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory” (The Message).

A retreat I attended in college used an article from theologian Paul Tillich entitled, “Accept That You Are Accepted.” It was a dense paper, but I still remember the title and the relief I felt that I did not have to earn, win, or beg for God’s love.

After his theological welcoming statement to begin Chapter 5, Paul addresses the challenges that new Christians are facing. Paul names the suffering, our feeling “hemmed in with troubles” (the message). He does not deny present suffering but looks deeper and longer to see what may emerge as we face the challenges.

Can we get a new perspective on our challenges? Can we see God at work amid difficulties? Can we cultivate patience and deepen trust? Once when I was looking for new ministry, I felt God was opening doors as I had three wonderful possibilities to pursue with new applications. After all three doors closed, I began to question the confidence I had in God when the three had seemed so right and good. My spiritual director reminded me to have hope and take the long view. Sometime later, a new door opened that was an even better fit than the previous opportunities.

Behold, God is able to do a new thing, working through difficulties and troubles and strengthening our character and our hope so we are not disappointed and often are surprised.