In Who or What Do You Have Faith?

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ~ Romans 5:1-5

Faith in Christ above all things is what will help us to successfully navigate through this life. If we do not have Christ in us then we have no faith, without faith there is no hope. Paul here says "we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." I would go further and say that this "hope" is truly "knowledge", the truth in knowing that the glory of our Creator has and will triumph! This knowledge is what makes us rejoice, yes rejoice in our afflictions, some synonyms of this word affliction are, agony, anguish, hurt, misery, torment, torture, etc. People who do not have Christ will ask, how can anyone "rejoice" in the midst of anguish or torment? If you have Christ then you know who is the Triumph One! You in faith know that as "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17) We know that "affliction produces endurance," which gives us not just character but "proven character!" Character that has and will stand the test of this world and of Satan himself! Character the not only produces hope but gives hope to those around them. A hope that has and will change the world. Therefore I besiege you to take the hope that is Christ, take the love God has poured into your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit and GO CHANGE THE WORLD!! Amen. <><