Romans 5: 2-5 ” And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

In this passage, Paul teaches us the profound truth about the transformational power of suffering and hope. Instead of viewing affliction as a burden to be avoided at all costs, Paul urges us to rejoice in it. That’s because, through our sufferings, our endurance is tested and strengthened…and in the end, we experience hope. And this hope will never be frustrated, but rather is guaranteed in the here and now by the love of God. Therefore, this type of quiet, enduring hope is the assurance of something not yet fully experienced… as God’s love is poured out in the midst of our struggles…offering us the strength and comfort we need to endure. Our sufferings also challenge us to ponder how they can lead us to a deeper intimacy with the Lord, as we learn to lean more and more on Him.