Romans 5:3 - Glory in suffering

Romans 5:3 - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

In the previous devotion we saw how Paul tells the Roman church to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. They are to boast or rejoice in that their sins are forgiven by faith and grace of God. And that God’s grace has given us the right standing before God.

Now he exhorts the church to rejoice or boast also in their suffering. This is because the outcome of suffering is perseverance is endurance. The Christian life is a journey. From the time we are justified, God by His Holy Spirit lads us through process called sanctification to mould us and to make us more like Christ. Suffering is one of the tools God uses to mould us, in this case to produce perseverance. 

When a Christian faces suffering or as the KJV calls it tribulation (suffering in the worst form), we should think of it as a punishment or curse that has come upon us. Rather we should rejoice as this will purify is and produce the important spiritual quality of endurance.

An olive seed must be crushed or squeezed into order to produce the oil. So must gold and silver be heated in fire of high temperatures to bring the best lustre and brilliance to the eyes. 

1 Peter 1:7 - These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

When we choose to live for God, we will certainly face trials and tribulations. 

1 Timothy 3:12 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 

But we can rest assured that God will not allow us to go beyond our capabilities. He knows our limits and with the help of the Holy Spirit we will be able to endure and in so doing become more like our Lord and saviour.

What do we do when we go through tribulations? In addition to “counting it as joy”:

1.    We look up to Him from whence cometh our help. When David when through sufferings in his own life, he looked up to God many times for help and strength.

Psalms 70:1-5 -  In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

² Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. ³ Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. ⁴ Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. ⁵ For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

Pray for strength to endure. God is in control and sometimes, He will not remove the storm but will see us through the storm. He has promised to be with us in time of trouble. His grace is just sufficient for every situation.

Humbly submit to God’s will and plan. God knows the best. His ways are higher than ours. He is the potter and we are just the clay. God knows how to make the best come out of us.An old song goes like this:

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter I am the clay
Mould me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still

The final product will be the blessing of perseverance and patience and more like Jesus. Moreover this pain and suffering is nothing compared to the glory of majesty we will share inherit for all eternity in the presence of our Lord and Saviour.

“‘Tribulation worketh patience,’ says the apostle. Naturally it is not so. Tribulation worketh impatience, and impatience misses the fruit of experience, and sours into hopelessness. Ask many who have buried a dear child, or have lost their wealth, or have suffered pain of body, and they will tell you that the natural result of affliction is to produce irritation against providence, rebellion against God, questioning, unbelief, petulance, and all sorts of evils. But what a wonderful alteration takes place when the heart is renewed by the Holy Spirit!” (Spurgeon)