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St. Paul tells us that hope is the fruit of a character that is tried through the furnace of suffering (see Hope in Hopelessness):

…affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope… (Romans 5:3-4)

Therefore, he said, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In other words, it is not enough to simply “endure” our trials, for one can also put up with them, so to speak, in a state of bitter resignation, anger, and resentment, thus producing not hope but despair and other ill fruits.Continue reading →