September 21
Joy in the Midst
of Suffering
Romans 5:3-5
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.
Daily Steps
This passage elevates the practice of rejoicing (Day 264) to its highest spiritual form, teaching the new believer how to find joy even in the darkest circumstances. It provides a divine understanding of suffering as a planned process that inevitably leads to secure hope and peace.
The peace in this principle is found in purposeful process:
Glorying in Suffering: The command is counter-intuitive: we also glory in our sufferings. This is not passive acceptance, but an active intentional celebration rooted in faith (Day 254). We can rejoice because we know that God has a specific, redemptive purpose for every hardship we face.
The Redemptive Chain: Suffering is the first link in a chain of spiritual growth: suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. God uses the weight of trials to build endurance (Day 257), mature integrity (Day 242), and deepen the hope (The Overflow of Hope, Day 226) that sustains us.
The Anchor of Love: The ultimate reason our hope is secure is that God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This anchors our joy in the unfailing love (Day 262) of God, which is a powerful reality given to us through the Helper (Day 213). This love guarantees that the suffering will produce the intended result.
Your peace is secured by purposeful process. Embrace the Discipline of Prayer and The Practice of Rejoicing today by choosing to glory in your sufferings, knowing that God is using your trials to create an unshakeable character and a secure hope.
Reflective Question
What specific suffering or trial are you experiencing right now? How can you look past the immediate pain and choose to "glory" in the fact that God is using this very trial to build perseverance and character in you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that my natural reaction to suffering is despair, not joy. I thank You for the truth that You work all things for my good. I pray for the faith to glory in my sufferings, trusting the redemptive chain that leads to hope. Secure my peace today in the knowledge that Your love has been poured out into my heart and that this hope will never put me to shame. Amen.
