GOOD FOUND IN SUFFERING

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of suffering?

I’m sure your immediate reaction wouldn’t be that it was something good, at least in most instances.

But as we see in so many other cases, the word of God often challenges our preconceived belief about a lot of things we experience in this worldly life. Here’s what we find as we look at these verses from Romans, Chapter 5:

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

What does it mean to glory in suffering?

A good way to gain better understanding of a biblical phrase is to look at other translations. When you do this with Romans 5:3, here’s what you find:

“And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings…” NRSV

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials…” NLT

“And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions…” HCSB

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…” ESV

The clear consensus here is that a Christian believer can (and should) rejoice in their sufferings.

Why?

Because there are positive byproducts that come out of the hardships and afflictions we go through in life. In other words, there is good found in suffering. Here are some of those constructive outcomes:

1. Suffering produces perseverance.

Suffering isn’t often short-term. Rather, it can go on for long periods of time and may seem like there will be no end. It puts our ability to wait and be patient to the test. This is a perfect time to learn to lean on the Lord.

You see, left to our own devices, we don’t have the strength to endure the trials of life. But with the Lord’s help, we can do all things to include persevering through difficulties and troubles when they come. We can sustain through suffering because we have the help of the One who can get us through it.

2. Suffering produces perseverance which, in turn, produces character.    

Look up character in the dictionary and this is what you find in terms of the way the word is used in this passage:

“moral excellence and firmness”

In other words, when we suffer, we learn to trust in the Lord who strengthens us in the time of our affliction and helps us persevere. And when we learn to trust the Lord to provide in our times of need, we develop greater “moral excellence” because this is exactly what a strong relationship with God produces. The best people of character are that way because they first dedicate themselves to the Lord.

3. Suffering produces perseverance which, in turn, produces character which then leads to hope.

When one dedicates and devotes themselves to the Lord, not only are they people who have strong moral character and persevere, able to make it through whatever challenges life brings upon them. They are also people who have the purest hope because they believe and trust in the only true source of it.

God’s love was poured out on all His people through His Son Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. And because of Christ’s redeeming work on the cross of Calvary, a redeeming work that showed ultimate good can come from suffering, every single person has a chance to have a hope that can never be taken away, a hope that exists not just for today but forever.

Perseverance. Character. Hope.

All are possible results of affliction because we serve a Lord who can produce positive outcomes from the midst of our sufferings.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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