Many people desire to be individuals of character. There are a number of ways to develop our character and the Apostle Paul revealed a significant aid to our character development. One of the ways that God builds character is a pathway that we usually don’t like to pursue:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Our default response to tribulation is not rejoicing, but asking, “Why me?” Paul realized that adversity can develop perseverance in our lives. The word perseverance conveys the idea of remaining under pressure and it is the picture of individuals who are not deterred from their purpose, even in the face of adversity and suffering.

Character may be considered the aggregate of one’s traits and characteristics. Dwight L. Moody described character as what you are in the dark. We have a tendency to conflate character and reputation; however, there is a significant difference. Our reputation is the person that others think we are, but our character is who we really are.

Paul’s description of character corresponds to the process that metals undergo to determine their purity and authenticity. When you persevere through tribulations, you have an opportunity to develop your character. Tribulations disclose the quality of our character.

Perseverance reveals what we can do, whereas character demonstrates who we are. Ability is important, but we must not neglect the cultivation of our character. The greatest reward for our perseverance is not what we get for it, but what we become by it. John Wooden exclaimed, “ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”

Proven character results in hope and hope can give us confidence for the future. Hope may be thought of as faith in the future. Hope gives us the emotional fortitude to continue to persevere, even when we’re tempted to quit. Hope is the character trait that enables us to continue to persevere in the face of adversity:

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, (Hebrews 6:19)

How do we appropriate this hope? We know that every believer has the Holy Spirit, but not every believer lives in the fullness of the Spirit and not every believer walks in the Spirit. Paul described our baptism in the Holy Spirit:

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

We are also commanded to be filled with the Spirit:

And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)

This is not a one-time event, but there is a need for many fillings. As we face the pressures of the world, the weaknesses of our flesh, and the attacks of Satan, we need to come to God and seek a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. The Bible also discusses the anointing of the Holy Spirit:

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. (1 John 2:20)

In the Old Testament, individuals were anointed with oil to symbolize God’s Spirit upon them for specific tasks. We depend upon the Holy Spirit’s ministry to live for Him.

Stephen Olford would often differentiate these three actions as “one baptism, many fillings, constant anointing” in the lives of believers. One baptism refers to the initial act when the Holy Spirit places a believer into the Body of Christ at salvation. Many fillings refer to the recurring, experiential empowering of the believer. Constant anointing refers to an ongoing state of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we face tribulations, our greatest resource is God’s Spirit giving us His perspective. God gets some of His best soldiers from the crucible of affliction. Don’t lose heart, keep pressing on. Our ability to persevere leads to the development of character. Paul Powell reminds us, “God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically, but to perfect us spiritually.” Realize that perseverance is worth the price. Our character may be manifested in the great moments, but Phillips Brooks taught us that it is made in the small ones – don’t lose heart!