“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
Have you ever wondered why a loving God allows suffering in the world? Starving children. Famine. Drought. Natural disasters. Why do these things happen if God is in control?
I’m not a theologian, and many people who are smarter than me have written about this before. But I would say this verse from Romans 5 says a lot about God and why he allows suffering in our personal lives. On a greater scale, He also allows suffering to happen in the world to bring people to Him — “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6
I think everyone with a pulse can take a look around at the world and know that something is not right. Why are innocent children starving? The simple answer (much more to dive into later) is that we are all sons of Adam, born into sin, and destined to die in our sin. “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:17
But what about when God allows hardships in our own personal lives? We can see from Romans 5 why he does it — to produce character. But why do we need character? Why can’t God just make my life easy and comfortable? Why can’t everything go right all at once?
I believe it’s because God wants to produce a character in us that will reflect the light of His Glory, and also the life of His Son. Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16), and His followers are meant to be molded into the image of Christ. As we are molded and shaped by Him, why should our lives look different from His? The apostle Paul considered it an honor to suffer and die for the cause of Christ.
In our own lives, when suffering comes, do we resist it? How many times I have prayed and asked God for the thorn to be removed, the desire to be taken away, the answer to come? And yet, I pray these things because I can’t bear to trust Him. And yet He asks this of me. In the quiet, stillness of my heart, He asks me to trust Him. With my future, with my past, with my present. Because my life is not my own. It’s a vessel. And it’s meant to be poured out for His Glory.
Life looks different when we believe in a greater Hope.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33