Rejoicing in suffering
Peter Jeffery
T
he positive approach to the problem of suffering is expressed very clearly by the apostle Paul in Romans 5:3,4.
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. This is not a matter of will power or temperament. If it were merely that, it would have no spiritual content. What Paul is referring to is not something that is true of you if you have a special sort of disposition, but rather something common to every child of God, irrespective of
temperament. This rejoicing is possible because of what we know - and it is something known only to Christians.
We know that God in Christ has displayed an amazing love for us. We know that our salvation is not something we deserve but is all of His grace.
We know that the Lord has kept us and will not allow us to lose the precious gift of salvation. And because of what we know of the love and grace of God, we are aware that suffering is not a totally destructive, meaningless experience, but it even produces certain benefits: ‘suffering produces perseverance ... character ... hope.’
And because of what we know of the love and grace of God, we are aware that suffering is not a totally destructive, meaningless experience...
Notice how Paul has now gone full circle. In verse 2 he was rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. But then these trials came and they seem so purposeless but on the contrary they serve to bring us back to that hope. We should not be surprised to discover that one of the most eective means of strengthening assurance is suering. That is what the Scriptures teach, and it is conďŹ rmed in our experience. The most severe trials can cause us great distress and even put our faith under intense pressure, but the endproduct will be a greater love for God and a deeper assurance of salvation.
The blessings of salvation are great as he has said in verses 1 and 2 but there is more, not only these but we rejoice in suffering. On the face of it this does not appear to be much of a blessing. But if you think on it you can see Paul’s thinking. Everyone gets their fair share of suffering and nearly always they impoverish life. They are difficult to deal with and often the most we can do is to grin and bear it. The nature of suffering makes our attitude to it negative. We see no good in it and no point to it. Paul says that is not right. There is a point but we will never see it unless we are justified. Here is another product of being saved. When a man becomes a Christian, his thinking and attitude change, and also his understanding. He
sees things differently and evaluates them by a new standard. The reason Paul gives as to why we glory in tribulation is ‘because we know’. It is not temperament or will power but knowledge that is the key to this. What we know is that if verses 1 and 2 are true then all things must work together for our good. So we look for the good. We discover perseverance, character and hope and we are not disappointed. These things discovered in times of suffering make us more sure of our salvation that we were. We can say with Psalm 71 that it is good for me that I have been afflicted. WE must learn to use the problems of life to grow in grace. That is one of the reasons we have been saved.
peter@peterjeery.org.uk
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