What is character? It’s an interesting word. Something that is only developed in a person over an extended amount of time. We probably all remember the definition used in grade school that character is who you are when nobody else is watching. Character is the culmination of thousands and thousands of decisions, it becomes a part of our psyche and a key piece to how we interact with the world.

The funny thing about character development is that it’s not really something that we wake up with the goal of improving. I can’t recall a morning where I’ve said to myself, today’s a great day to work on my character. The Bible seems to hold our character with high esteem. Romans 5:3-5 says, “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

Paul clearly states the process in which hope grows inside of us. It starts with hard times. Facing hard times well is like going on a run – as we push through, we begin to develop endurance. When this endurance is practiced over time, then character is formed. It’s out of our character being rooted in Christ that we stand with hopeful confidence, as believers, that salvation through Jesus has graciously been given to us.

I want to talk a little bit about calling. Paul in Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The broad calling to all believers is that we have work to do. Jesus tells us right before He ascends that we are to go into all the world, telling people about Him, baptizing in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching people to live the way that Jesus has taught us to live (Matthew 28).

The Great Commission is our “umbrella calling” if you will. Paul’s charge in Ephesians 2 is a specific calling to each of us individually. The things God has for me to do, specifically, are different than the things He has for you to do. Having this been said, the preparation I need to go through to be equipped for the works God has for me is different than the preparation you will have to go through. In the same way, a professional soccer player’s life preparation will be different than a professional baseball player’s preparation. Both are broadly considered professional athletes, but their journeys are incredibly different.

Stick with me for a moment as I tie these two thoughts together. If character development tends to take place when we’re confronted with trials that require endurance, and we all have our own individual works to accomplish for the Kingdom here on earth, then your trials and my trials will look different. And not because the world is random, broken, and painful, but because our individual trials are shaping our unique stories to prepare us for specific callings. God doesn’t cause the brokenness around us, but He does use it.

I had a conversation the other day with an old friend, and he brought up a phenomenal point about desert seasons and callings. The idea is that our desert seasons, the challenging times in our lives, prepare us for that which we have been uniquely called to.

Friends, this is what I want to encourage us all to today: your hard times are producing something in you that you are going to need in the future. God does not waste any time. He also doesn’t force us to do anything. If you find yourself in the midst of a trial today, keep your eyes fixed on the Lord. Seek Him through it. This is how endurance and character and hope is grown inside of us. God uses the brokenness of this world and the pain we experience to develop steadfastness in His children.

Although the pain and heartache are a result of the sinful world we find ourselves in, they are also the tools and material God uses to partner with us as we build our house on the Rock of Jesus. It’s enduring through the present trials well that our faith is bolstered so we will be prepared to weather the future storms of life and be equipped to accomplish all the Lord has for us. I’ll leave you with this: endure well, your time in the desert may be exactly what you need – it’s not wasted time.