How would the Gospel help in the presence?
3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Life involves both pain and pleasure. When life is “up,” we can savor these benefits. But when things are “down,” what difference do peace, access, and future glory make? Paul says: Every difference. We rejoice in our hope of glory (Ro.5:2), but not only this, “we also rejoice in our sufferings” (Ro.5:3). These joys remain in our sorrow and help us find joy in our sorrow.
Paul does not say we rejoice for our sufferings, as that would be masochism. Some people need to feel punished to deal with guilt, while others maintain a superior attitude toward those with easier lives. Suffering can also be used as a form of justification by works, feeling that God owes them favor because of their hardships. Those who do not process suffering through the gospel of grace can become proud, superior, or cynical.
Christians, however, rejoice in suffering, not in the troubles themselves. God hates the pain of this life, and so should we. A Christian knows that suffering will have beneficial results, looking through the suffering to their certainties and resting in the knowledge that troubles will increase their enjoyment and appreciation of those certainties.
What are these positive results of suffering for those justified by grace? Paul says suffering begins a chain reaction:
- Suffering leads to “perseverance” (Ro.5:3), helping us focus on what is truly important and removing distractions.
- “Perseverance” leads to “character” (Ro.5:4), a confidence that comes from having been through an experience. Suffering, if it leads you to focus on God and proper priorities, will lead to greater confidence as you come through it.
- All this leads to growth in “hope,” a stronger assurance of one’s peace, access to God, and future glory. Suffering removes rival sources of confidence and drives us to the one place where we find real hope: God.
Paul’s addition of Romans 5:5 suggests that Christians who focus single-mindedly on prayer and obedience during suffering will experience more of God’s love – an outpouring into their hearts. Many Christians feel more of God’s presence and love during suffering because it makes them focus on and trust in him more.
Paul’s assertion is that the benefits of justification are not diminished by suffering but enlarged by it. If you face suffering with a clear grasp of justification by grace alone, your joy in that grace will deepen. However, if you face suffering with a mindset of justification by works, the suffering will break you.
Consider how suffering affects people seeking salvation by works. Self-justifiers are insecure because they know they aren’t living up to their standards. When suffering hits, they feel they are being punished for their sins, and their belief in God’s love is shattered. Suffering drives them away from God rather than toward him. It is when we suffer that we discover what we are really trusting and hoping in: ourselves or God.
Can you identify ways in which perseverance through suffering has developed your character? How has this experience made you more resilient and dependent on God?
[The ideas for this week’s materials on Romans 5:1-11 were drawn from Tim Keller’s book “Romans 1-7 for You“]
It is interesting to me as I look back upon my life, and the various ways in which suffering has impacted me. Early in my life, I would deal with it by pretending it didn’t affect me at all- a sort of stoicism. Until, at a point, it became too much, and then it led me down a hedonistic path in which I sought to minimize the pain I felt by any means necessary- typically with copious amounts of alcohol and drugs. Then, as this stopped working, profound suffering led me to seek God, and eventually to accept Christ. Today, suffering helps me to recognize my complete and utter dependence upon Him, and to become more aware of the fact that Jesus truly is our only hope in this fallen world- but what a glorious hope He is!! As Paul says later in Romans, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us,” (Romans 8:18). As we share in Christ’s suffering, we also share more and more in His glory, and experience the resurrected life in slightly greater degrees each and every day😊
When I’m feeling depressed or when life feels overwhelming, there are a few possible responses. Bear with it – that’s what I was raised to do – bear with it because all things pass with time. Fight it – refuse to suffer and fight to take away the pain – but what if nothing you do have an impact – then in the end you can only bear with it and know that all the suffering ends as all must.
But with a faith in the Lord, there is another – better – path. Pray to the Lord and look for how He is working in us. Have faith in His love and look for Him at the end of the path – often not knowing makes it hard to endure – with certainty there is hope. Be comforted in knowing He’s walking with us. See the transformative work that He’s doing and be joyful in His presence. Peace is found with being near the Father as we can be certain of His love.