In Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians, he says that “we rejoice in our sufferings” (Romans 5:3). How can we possibly rejoice in the midst of death, job loss, rejection, sickness, or betrayal? Note very carefully. He does not say, “rejoice in spite of our sufferings.” He says, “rejoice in our sufferings.” It would seem that this is the last thing we can rejoice in. What could he mean by this crazy statement?
What he does not mean is that suffering itself is good. It’s not good to be hit in the jaw, get in a car wreck, or lose a friend. There has to be something else that is added to the suffering that would make us rejoice in it. In other words, suffering can be used for some purpose that would make it good for us.
Let’s take being hit in the jaw. If we were training for a boxing match, getting hit in the jaw might help us see a weakness in our defenses we might not have seen otherwise. Getting in a car wreck might lead us to a lifetime of more careful driving. Losing a friend may have been the loss of an unhelpful friendship. It also may have gotten us out of our shell in a way that opened up new possibilities and friendships that made us grow. Most of us have had experiences like this.
So, what is the good connected to suffering that Paul has in mind? The answer is found in the words “we rejoice in the glory of God.” This does not mean that we rejoice because we will see or experience God’s glory, even though we will. It means we rejoice that we will be made like God, i.e., we will have a character that reflects His good, loving, and just character.
In order to understand how you can rejoice in suffering, you have to believe that who you are is more important than what you have. It has to be more important than riches, cars, fame, etc. Being a person who is just and good and kind and a fit instrument to commune with the triune God is the best thing you can be and far more important than anything else.
Such a person was and is Jesus Christ. He is equal with God the Father and the eternal Son of the Father but became a human being to save us and restore us to fellowship with Him and the Father and the Spirit. He is a glorious person, and the destiny of His followers is to be made glorious like Him. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son . . .” (Romans 8:29).
The verse before Romans 8:29 is very well known. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose . . .” (Romans 8:28). What is the good that God is working out? To make us more like Jesus. He is changing us to make us people who enjoy fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than just serve themselves. It is the same idea that leads Paul to say that we rejoice in our sufferings.
Now, if suffering makes us more like the glorious image of God, wouldn’t that be something to actually rejoice in? Is there anything better than to be like the glorious God of the universe?
How Suffering Changes Us
But how does this work out? How does suffering make us more glorious and like Christ?
Paul says that suffering produces perseverance. Other versions translate the Greek word as “patience.” No matter how good things are, there will always be something lacking. Suffering teaches us that very clearly. Not everything will be how we want it to be. We can either base our happiness on having everything be just how we want it, or we can learn to adjust ourselves to reality and accept it for what it is. This is patience, endurance, and perseverance. Suffering has a way of showing us that our hope is not in the changeable things of the world but in the unchangeable character and promises of God.
The result of this growth in patience or perseverance is character. The word here is taken from metallurgy. When a metal is put into the fire, its true worth is shown. When we go through the fire, our character is shown. We don’t often know what is in us until we suffer or have to do something hard or difficult. This testing also has a way of removing that which is impure to leave a pure metal. The result is a character that is stronger and more able to endure.
To understand this, take an example from everyday life. If you have not run since high school, when someone says, “Let’s run three miles,” you may be overwhelmed. However, if you just ran a marathon last week, three miles is going to seem like nothing. That’s what happens when we use our suffering well. It strengthens our spiritual muscles.
Jesus was able to endure the greatest tests. He suffered and was attacked continually, but He kept going and kept in communion with His Father. Ultimately, He went to the cross when it was His Father’s will and endured it out of love for us so that our sins could be forgiven. Suffering has a way of producing this same type of love in us. That love can keep going, sacrificing, and serving, even when it is tough.
Paul says that this character that suffering builds produces hope. When we begin to pass the tests and see God transforming us, then we will begin to have hope. As we see our life change, we can see clearly that God is making us more like Jesus. This gives us hope for the future and final glory God has for us. When we see ourselves further along, then we realize God is using these sufferings to make us more what we are supposed to be.
The Stoic philosopher Seneca grasped the substance of this truth about suffering. He said, “It is no different with God, let me assure you: he does not pamper a good man like a favourite slave; he puts him to the test, hardens him, and makes him ready for his service.” He continued, “It is a father’s heart that God shows to good men; he loves them in a manly ways, and says, ‘Let them know the pain of toil, of suffering, of loss, so that they may acquire true strength’” (Dialogues and Essays, 4). God brings His favorites through big challenges in order to make them better.
Now, if Seneca could have confidence in this without the advantage of knowing the cross and resurrection of Christ, how can we Christians, who have seen God’s love in the cross and His power in the resurrection, not have confidence in it? We can rejoice in our sufferings because they are moving us closer to the glorious goal that God has for our lives, to make us more like Himself!
How to Apply This to Ourselves and Others
First, we should be honest with ourselves. We should not pretend like we rejoice in our sufferings when we do not. Many times, I have not liked that I have had to suffer. At other times, my feelings are more ambiguous. I do think that suffering will be good for me, but I would definitely rather avoid it. It will do us no good to pretend like we are doing better than we are. Knowing reality is always our friend in the end.
We also may have to go through a period of grieving before we can accept the blessing of suffering. Joseph, who had been sold by his brothers into slavery, said “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” I doubt that he came to that conclusion overnight. He probably had nights of weeping and frustration. Had Joseph written psalms, he probably would have expressed his frustration like King David did in the book of Psalms.
When dealing with other people, we should be especially sensitive to this fact. Recently, we experienced severe flooding in our area that claimed many lives and much property. It would be a terrible idea to go to those who have just lost their homes and say, “Isn’t it great that we can rejoice in suffering?” No. Let them grieve. Let them live with the pain. In time, God will help them adjust to the loss, and that may include being able to see how suffering helped them become something more glorious. But most likely, that will take time (see more explanation on the grieving process here).
Second, in regard to ourselves, we should practice thinking of suffering differently. We don’t have to wait until we are suffering. Consider the variety of ways you could suffer, and then try to visualize how God might use that to make you grow. We can prepare ourselves ahead of time and learn to embrace suffering as a means to make us like the glorious Jesus.
Finally, practice with little things. Waiting in traffic, going without food, staying up later than you want, or doing something uncomfortable can all be ways that God can train us to have patience and faith in Him. Embrace these small inconveniences and pain. Try ignoring the fear that keeps you from entering into things that really aren’t that scary. That’s how we can live Romans 5:3–4 in small things that will help prepare us for the big things.
A patient person who can submit to the will of Goid, enjoy communion with Him, and be kind is the type of person that can transcend and defeat any circumstance. It’s the person who has a source of joy and blessing no matter what occurs. This is what God wants for us, to find our joy where it is truly to be found, in Him. Sometimes, suffering is the best path to get us to that good end. It is a hard medicine, but, if it cures and makes us truly whole, we can rejoice in it.
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Photo by Johann Walter Bantz on Unsplash