The Product of Suffering
Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us. (Romans 5:3–5)
Paul really wanted the Roman Christians to know that works played no part in their salvation. He spent the previous four chapters discussing works, such as circumcision, and why they were not able to save us as some groups had suggested. Here in chapter 5, Paul comes to the crux of his letter. If works cannot save us, then it must be faith that saves us. And it surely does. This faith gives us peace with God and brings us hope in the grace of God.
But not only do we have hope for eternity. This grace, this faith, also gives us hope in our sufferings. When we face suffering, we do not do it alone or for no purpose. Instead, through our suffering, we learn to patiently endure. As we patiently endure our sufferings, we show our true character as children of God. We see that God is able to help us through our suffering and we show our hope in God.
To the outside world, this hope that we have in suffering might look absurd. Why would you worship a God that allows you to suffer? And yet for us, there will come a time when it will be shown that our hope was not foolish. One day, everyone will see that this hope that we have has been rightly put in the God who saves us. And maybe along the way, it will convince others that God is good and having hope in him is not a shameful thing. And so, because of all that, we rejoice in our sufferings, not because we enjoy them but because of what they accomplish in us. Amen.
The song for today is “Bring the Rain” by MercyMe