Romans 5:3 says we should “exult in our tribulation.” Why? Because, as Paul continues, “tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

I’m not praying for God to stop COVID-19. Instead, I’m praying for something else, something more important.

Romans 5:3 says we should “exult in our tribulation.” Why? Because, as Paul continues, “tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

In these three verses, Paul provides an insight into why God allows suffering in our lives. He describes a chain of transformation consisting of four links that ultimately connect our tribulations to the deep love of God.

Here is the ultimate takeaway: Suffering is necessary in the Christian life because it leads to a hope that transcends our current circumstances and releases the love of God into our lives.

The first link in our chain is tribulation. Suffering during tribulation is unavoidable in a fallen world, but for us it has a purpose. Paul says tribulation produces perseverance, the second link. Trusting God while enduring the hard things of life eventually results in a stubborn determination to finish the race.

Do we persevere through the easy things? No. We persevere through suffering. Without suffering, there’s nothing to endure. Suffering changes us. It teaches us tenacity.

The chain’s third link connects perseverance to character. Proven character is the quality of a person who has been tested and passed the test. A person with proven character is a sturdy veteran, not a green recruit, someone who’s been through the battle and is still standing.

The fourth link in the chain of transformation ties proven character to hope. This is not just any hope, though. It’s the hope of the gospel. As God develops our character in the present, He can be relied on for the future, too. We’re confident of our destiny because of our current, unchanging standing with God. “Having been justified by faith” (5:1), we have forever peace with God through Christ. We can trust Him, even in troubling times.

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