Rejoicing in Suffering? By Babatunde Olugboji
In Romans 5:3, Paul states, “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” The English Standard Version (ESV) opts for the term rejoice in place of glory. The notion of rejoicing or glorying in suffering appears to be unattainable. How can believers achieve this?
Paul contends that believers have been justified through faith. As a result, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1–2). The same Greek term that is rendered as “boast” in verse 2 is translated as “glory” in verse 3. Believers ought to take pride in their hope in Christ and find glory in their sufferings.
Paul further clarifies the purpose of suffering: “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). Suffering is not without purpose, as it fosters perseverance, refines our character, and engenders a deeper hope in God. This hope will not lead to disappointment, as it is rooted in God’s love and confirmed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Understanding that God is actively working to mold us into the likeness of Christ allows us to find glory in our suffering.
God uses suffering as a means of testing us. James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2–3). The experience of joy is linked to recognizing the purpose behind suffering. Although we may not always comprehend the reasons for our suffering, we can observe that it yields perseverance, rendering us “mature and complete” (James 1:4). This is how we can find glory in our suffering (Romans 5:3).
Jesus urged his disciples to find joy and gladness in the face of persecution: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely accuse you of all sorts of evil because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, as they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12). We can take pride in our suffering because we endure trials for the sake of Christ, who assures us that He will not forsake us during challenging times (Hebrew 13:5). The apostle Peter reminds us that suffering for Christ is indeed a blessing: “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).
Taking pride in suffering necessitates a change in perspective. The world perceives suffering as a barrier to happiness, but believers ought to view it as a chance to deepen their faith and relationship with God. Our strength does not arise from simply gathering enough courage to face suffering; rather, it stems from the assurance that “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Everything, including suffering, serves our benefit and his glory.
Moreover, taking pride in suffering compels us to consider hardships from an eternal viewpoint. Although pain and suffering can be challenging to endure, God utilizes these experiences to accomplish His redemptive plan. Thus, we should not anchor our hope in this world but in the everlasting glory of heaven. We can take pride in our suffering because it yields something far more significant than we can envision (1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:17).
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