Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.
Nobody naturally welcomes suffering. When hardship arrives, joy is usually the first thing to disappear. Pain, uncertainty, loss, and prolonged difficulty can cloud our vision and weigh heavily on our hearts. In those moments, joy feels distant: almost inappropriate. We instinctively associate joy with comfort, peace with ease, and hope with good outcomes. So, when life unravels, joy often feels out of place.
Yet the Christian faith offers a perspective that challenges this assumption.
In Romans 5, the apostle Paul speaks to believers who were no strangers to hardship. They lived under hostile leadership, endured pressure for their faith, and faced real threats to their safety and livelihood. Instead of offering them an escape plan, Paul offers them something far more radical: an invitation to rejoice, even in suffering.
At first glance, this sounds unreasonable. How can joy coexist with pain? How can rejoicing make sense when circumstances are harsh? Paul’s message does not deny the reality of suffering, nor does it glorify pain itself. Instead, it reframes suffering through the lens of what God has already accomplished and what He continues to do within us.
Paul begins with a powerful truth: through Jesus, we now live at peace with God and stand firmly in grace. This peace is not fragile or dependent on circumstances. it is secure, rooted in a restored relationship with God. Because of this, believers have ongoing access to grace through faith. That access changes everything. It means suffering is no longer meaningless or final.
Faith allows us to see beyond the present moment. It anchors us in the hope that hardship is not the conclusion of our story. Even when we do not understand the reason for our pain, we trust that God is at work within it. This trust does not eliminate struggle, but it transforms how we endure it.
Paul explains that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance is not passive waiting; it is the steady choice to remain anchored in God when everything else feels unstable. It is the quiet strength that keeps us moving forward when answers are delayed, and relief seems distant. Over time, perseverance shapes our character. It refines us, deepens us, and aligns our hearts more closely with God’s own heart.
As character develops, hope grows stronger. This hope is not wishful thinking or denial of reality: It is a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness. It is the assurance that God is present, active, and purposeful, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. Hope reminds us that suffering does not have the final word.
This perspective does not come naturally. When we are in pain, our vision narrows. Fear, disappointment, and exhaustion can drown out hope. But when we intentionally trust God in the midst of hardship, something remarkable happens we are strengthened from within. We discover that God’s grace is not just sufficient—it is sustaining.
Seeing suffering from God’s perspective shifts our understanding. We begin to recognise that God is not wasting any part of our journey. Even in seasons of difficulty, He is working to reveal His glory, shape our lives, and draw us closer to Himself. What feels like a delay may actually be preparation. What feels like loss may be the ground where deeper faith is formed.
God has not left us to navigate suffering alone. Through the Holy Spirit, He continually pours His love into our hearts. This love is not theoretical; it is personal, present, and powerful. God has already demonstrated the depth of His love by giving Himself for us so that we could live in a relationship with Him. That same love sustains us now and assures us that we will never be abandoned.
Because God has given us His very best, we can trust Him with every part of our lives, including the painful parts. He provides strength for today and hope for tomorrow. He equips us to live lives that reflect His character, even when the path is difficult.
So take a moment to reflect on how God may be working in your life right now, even in seasons that feel heavy or unclear. Consider how His love has been made real to you through the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for the strength to persevere and allow that perseverance to shape a character that remains steady and hopeful.
And when the journey feels overwhelming, hold firmly to this truth: God has already given everything for you. He is present in your pain, faithful in your waiting, and committed to walking with you through every season. Joy in hard times is not about ignoring suffering; it is about trusting the God who redeems it.
Amen.
SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
Joy and suffering can coexist when rooted in faith:
Christian joy flows from peace with God, not from perfect circumstances.
Faith reframes hardship with hope:
Suffering is not the end of our story but part of God’s ongoing work.
Perseverance is formed through trust, not ease:
Endurance grows as we rely on God in difficult seasons.
Character is refined in the waiting:
God uses perseverance to shape us into reflections of Christ.
Hope strengthens us to keep going:
True hope is a confident expectation grounded in God’s faithfulness.
God’s love sustains us through the Holy Spirit:
We are never alone. His presence and grace remain constant.
