Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 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.
Romans 5:1-5
Scripture Notes
It’s done, over. We no longer have to fear the sting of death and darkness nor separation from our Maker, because we have been justified and made to have peace with God. Much like Esther was given the golden scepter by Xerxes, even as she walked toward her death, we have been handed acceptance, as the Father extends his royal scepter over us, leading to our vindication. With this access by faith, we can experience true peace. We can enjoy that our past failings have been forgiven, and we rejoice in the hope of a glorious life to come with the Lord.
We stand with the Almighty, and through our faith, we endure tribulations. The paradox of suffering is that it coexists with joy. Happiness is not the absence of affliction but rather closeness to our Father. Part of coming into faith is enduring difficulties and being molded for our calling. Like courage, which can only occur when fear is overcome, joy cannot manifest unless hardship and struggle are endured. This perseverance then leads to character—a chance to prove ourselves under pressure and develop our ability to face trials without giving up.
Suffering will find us; it is inevitable. In a world where death comes for us all, our actions have consequences, and the hands of broken people deal affliction, trials and struggles surround us (Heb. 12:11). We need not seek out suffering or play the martyr. Instead, we need to work through whatever our personal struggles are and assist others in their battles. No one should glory in their pain, again, not by deeming themselves a saint by intentionally harming oneself or creating one’s own drama. We are to look for spiritual development and build our capacity to do good.
Through perseverance, we gain character, like clay in a potter’s hand or a stone carved by water. It takes time, patience, and a relentless faith that He who began a good work will complete it (Phil 1:6). We are to respond to our trials with wisdom and patience. Instead of complaining, we are to use our time of struggle as an opportunity for growth. With this endurance and character development, we are led to hope. Not wishful thinking or musings, but honest-to-God hope. A hope that does not disappoint because we know that God always fulfills his promises.
The three build on one another—endurance, character, and hope. One cannot be the one who is always hopeful or the one who always endures. It is a process for each of us to bear our burdens, and as we can help others bear theirs (Gal. 6:1-2). In this way, we can all grow in capacity and character, which leads to hope. We can sense it, if only through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. We hope for the day when we will stand before the Father, justified and sanctified, to give honor and glory to His name and to be accepted into His kingdom.
MEMORY VERse
David Cox the elder. A Mountain Torrent, c. 1850. The Art Institute of Chicago
Related Verses
More verses about endurance and hope:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- How can you intentionally rejoice in hardship, recognizing that it’s about God’s purpose and not about praising oneself?
- How does the hope produced by suffering differ from worldly hope, and what are you currently hoping for?
- How can you support and help others who are experiencing suffering and hardship, knowing that joy will follow?
MANÁ 
Leave a comment