We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Recently a letter came from a man who had lost his job. Though he faced discouragement and uncertainty, he refused to give in to despair. In his letter to me he said, "I feel as low as ever in my life, but I know this is not the final word. Because I believe God has work that he wants me to do, I rejoice and rely upon his guidance!"

This man had discovered the key to personal strength - the faith that God will work through every event in our lives to accomplish his perfect purpose for us. Such faith inspired Paul to exclaim, "We rejoice in our sufferings." (Romans 5:3)

As we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we expect to meet Christ in a fresh and intimate way in this sacrament. We seek strength from Christ so that we can overcome suffering and become an encouragement to other people.

To "rejoice in sufferings," as Paul did, seems contrary to our inclination. When sickness or business failure stagger us, how can we rejoice in such agony?

Having given the basis of Christian assurance in the first four chapters of Romans, Paul concluded in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul was saying that as we trust what Christ has done for us through his death and resurrection, we find a right relationship with God. We become confident of the purpose God has for us. (Romans 5:2) Such faith inspired Paul to exclaim, "We rejoice in our sufferings."

During this time of communion with Christ today, we can find confident joy amid our sufferings as we become strengthened in purpose, steadfast in perspective, and stable in personality.

1. Become strengthened in purpose. Jesus faced the most severe suffering for us. We remember how his body was broken for us as we take and eat the bread of Holy Communion. We remember how his blood was shed for us as we drink the cup. As God worked his purpose through Christ’s sufferings, so we trust God to work his purpose for us through our sufferings.

In times of affliction we, like Jesus, can entrust ourselves to God’s purpose confident "that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) As we partake of Holy Communion, we seek to become strengthened in our awareness of God’s loving purpose for us.

Recently the criticism of some people hurt me deeply. I could feel my spirit sliding into the rut of self-pity and ineffectiveness. About mid-morning a young woman named Betty sought my counsel. Her best friend had spread false rumors about Betty among the people with whom Betty associated professionally and socially. Betty let this hurt defeat her. Then quite abruptly I said, "You’re beautiful, you’re strong, you’re gifted, you’re sure of success!"

Startled, she asked, "Do you really think so?"

"I am sure it is true because God has placed his image and his plan within you!" I answered.

In time she exclaimed, "God is great! With his help I do have dreams I can accomplish. I am grateful for what God can do through the heartache I face. The love of Christ will enable me to be honest with my friend who has hurt me. I’ll never give up to despair!" In those moments I found God sustaining my spirit. Betty and I could rejoice in our sufferings.

Romans 5:7 can be translated, "For because of our faith in Christ he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward actually to become all that God has had in mind for us to be." We are as strong as the purposes we serve. Though we face adversity, we find confident joy when we know we seek by faith to serve God’s highest intent for us.

2. Become steadfast in perspective. As we persevere in realizing God’s purpose, we gain perspective on ourselves and our problems. "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance ..." (Romans 5:3) The word endurance means steadfastness or perseverance. As Paul persevered through beatings, imprisonments, and sickness he gained perspective on these afflictions. He could see God working through these hardships to accomplish the divine will. A person who senses what God is doing and remains steadfast in God’s purpose is able to keep all of life’s events in perspective.

Abraham Lincoln’s strength arose from his conviction about the just and benevolent purposes of God. Lincoln trusted God to work through times of suffering to accomplish his sovereign will. With this faith Lincoln had the steadfast perspective to endure tragedy in his family and in his nation.

Lincoln said, "I know there is a God, and that he hates injustice and slavery. I see the storm coming, and I know that his hand is in it. If he has a place and work for me - and I think he has - I believe I am ready. I am nothing, but truth is everything. I know I am right because I know that liberty is right, for Christ teaches it and Christ is God." Lincoln found the perseverance to trust God in times of affliction. Lincoln could see the tumult of his day in the light of God’s purposes.

3. Become stable in personality. "Endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us." (Romans 5:4, 5) God can work through times of suffering to produce stable character. In the New Testament the words trial (peirasmos) and tribulation (thilipsis) describe the sufferings we face. Jesus spoke to his disciples saying, "You are those who have continued with me in my trials." (Luke 22:28) James said, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for ... the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2, 3)

Besides trials, the New Testament says we must face tribulations. Tribulation refers to the most severe form of suffering. In Romans 5:3 this is the word translated "sufferings." "We rejoice in our sufferings" means we rejoice in our most severe afflictions. Paul said that through Christ we can rejoice even in the most severe trial because such suffering produces endurance (steadfastness) and endurance produces character. The word Paul used for character means literally "tested character." When we let Christ sustain us through times of trial, our personalities take on the strength of his Spirit.

Trials and tribulations serve to test, complete, or perfect our personalities, giving stability. I am hesitant to say that God causes a particular trial or tribulation. We can bring adversity on ourselves or we can confront suffering as a result of living in a fallen world amid rebellious people. But God can take any of our trials and tribulations and work with them to accomplish his perfect purpose for us. This faith inspires us to rejoice in our sufferings.

There is a woman who illustrates magnificently how a person can become strengthened, steadfast, and stable through suffering. I hold the highest admiration for her and asked for permission to tell her story. She wrote me:

I rejoice if my tragedies and triumphs can possibly help someone, but I have to be honest - I was not a victim, I was an overt sinner. I had choices, and I made the wrong ones. I would like to blame others, but the responsibility is mine. When I went away to school I fell into self-degrading practices. Then when I was married there was not a stable basis for that marriage. When the divorce came I thought I had reached the bottom of the pit, only to fall much deeper.

I moved into the fast lane, looking for anything to fill my unbearable loneliness and emptiness. I went so low I couldn't face myself in the mirror. After three years of hell I found my way to Covenant. One Sunday morning you talked about Jesus Christ and trusting him. Christ filled the void in my life with God’s love. At last I was secure; a deep joy filled my life. I had found what I was looking for. My work was fulfilling, and I became a participant in a small group. My life became orderly and serene. I rested in this peaceful environment for three years, but the Lord had a new challenge for me and would not let me become complacent.

Today this woman holds a position which can directly impact anyone in our community in a life-or-death way. Her work and the work of those whom she directs sustain the lives of countless persons each week. Here is her description of how she struggled before accepting the new position.

The job was offered to me, but I declined. I was afraid of failure. I was comfortable and did not want the old adversities which had crushed me once before. Six months later the job was offered to me again! It began to dawn upon me that this might be a further dimension of God’s plan - something that only I could do. After much prayer and agonizing, arguing and rationalizing, I happened to be in church the day you preached on 2 Timothy 2:7. "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind." I knew God was trying to tell me that he would give me the courage to step out, that he wouldn't give me a job that he and I together couldn’t do! He would not forsake me! I accepted the job, and it has been challenging and exciting. I only pray that I don’t get in the way of what the Lord wants done.

We find the strength to overcome suffering when, first, we become strengthened in purpose, second, when we become steadfast in perspective, and third, when we become stable in personality. As we partake of the sacrament of Holy Communion we rejoice in the presence of Christ who meets us, promises to forgive our sins, and gives us his strength and joy. We now receive Christ by faith as we partake of this bread and of this cup. We rejoice in the strength he gives us to meet all events. We pray that through Christ we may become an encouragement to others.