Boasting in sufferings

Romans 5:1-5

5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

We have jumped to Romans chapter 5 to continue the core argument which is continued from chapter 3. Chapter 4 is an extended illustration using Abraham as an example of faith. The “therefore” that opens chapter 5 takes us back to the end chapter 3 – the clue being “boast” in vs. 2.

Human beings need to boast – so we are given something to boast in, we boast in the our hope of sharing the glory of God. Now, that sounds pretty egotistical, hoping to experience God’s glory in our lives. But we are slowed down by the process outlined in vs. 3-5. Boasting in the hope of God’s glory begins by boasting in our sufferings. In the upside economy of God, God’s glory is seen most profoundly in the cross (“a sign of suffering and shame” as the hymn the Old Rugged Cross tells us). And Jesus’ followers are called to take up the cross and follow Jesus – taking up their signs of suffering and shame. Suffering by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (vs. 5) produces endurance (resilience which is a significant conversation piece in the wider society these days), endurance produces character (think strength of character, remaining true to Jesus’ call in our lives), and character produces hope. A hope that will be realized in the redemption and reconciliation which faith and grace promised to us.  

The sign of God’s presence in our lives is not when everything is going well, the sign of God’s presence working in our lives is when things are difficult, and we are being shaped and formed by that process leading to be more and more the people we have been called to be by God. We are shaped much more profoundly by the challenges of life than we are by the easy things of life. They are signs of God’s grace shaping us deeper and deeper in our commitment to Him.

We hear this truth in the line from Amazing Grace “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.”

PRAYER:

God our guide and our hope, we wish to be led by you, but often we are led on difficult paths and we wonder where you are. Teach us to rest in the truth that suffering produces endurance, and endurance strengthens character, and character gives birth to hope, a hope that will be realized in your grace and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.