Holy Week Reflections: We Will Suffer...and That's Okay

Fruits of suffering 

Romans 5:3–5 says, 

Not only that, but 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. 

Have you ever wondered why the Bible tells us to rejoice in suffering? This is not about ignoring the reality of our pain or trying to suppress what we really feel. It is to point us to the reason why we can rejoice—because God can bring forth fruitfulness even in suffering. 

Here are three fruits of suffering and why we can rejoice in them, according to Romans 5: 

Endurance 

Going through suffering helps us endure or learn how to endure. If you’ve ever run a marathon or hiked a mountain, you know that initially it can be thrilling and exciting. But when you’re in the middle of it and feel the exhaustion, you will start thinking how nice it must have been if you just stayed home and watched Netflix. But then you’re already in it and you have no choice but to keep going even when it’s hard. That’s  endurance. And in suffering, we sometimes feel like maybe we should just stop or escape our problems and forget about them. But endurance says, “We just need to keep going, and trust that God knows what’s best for us.” Only suffering does that. 

Character 

Endurance builds character. When we choose to trust God while enduring sickness, financial problems, or heartbreaks, He builds our character and makes our faith stronger. 

Hope 

Endurance also produces hope in us. Hope assures us that these struggles we’re facing are not the end of our story. We become more heavenly-minded when we choose to use these trials to point us to our future glory that’s beyond all comparison. 

What should be our attitude to suffering after knowing all this? 

With this biblical perspective, what should be our attitude whenever we suffer? What should we do to glorify God even in our sufferings? 

Seek God and ask Him to direct you. 

Tough times can sometimes happen to us because of our own disobedience. But there are also cases when tribulations come to test our faith. Whatever the case may be, let’s always prioritize seeking God and asking Him what we should do. Should we change something in our lives? Should we confess any sin? Should we patiently wait on Him as He does His work through our situation? Let coming to Him be our first response in times of trouble, not posting or ranting on social media. He is always present and He is teaching us something through this trial. 

Be honest with God. 

One of the things that I appreciate in the book of Psalms is how the psalmists can be very honest with what they were feeling and still praise God at the same time. It reminds me of how God can handle honest feelings and questions. It is a comfort knowing that I don’t have to bottle everything up. God cares for me and He will listen to my cry when I humbly come to Him. 

Suffer, but do not sin. 

This is what we need to be careful of. There are times that out of frustration and feelings of helplessness, we sometimes sin and do things that don’t glorify God. Remember that Satan’s goal was not just to see Job suffer, but to make him sin and turn away from God. So let’s be stubborn this way: No matter what the world throws at us, let us cling to God and keep our heart right before Him. 

This is an excerpt from Work In Progress by Mariann Lopera, available at OMF Lit Bookshops, shop.omflit.com, Shopee, and Lazada.

Navigating through life as a young adult is not easy. It comes with highs, lows, and uncertainties. It requires us to make important decisions that can lead us closer to or farther from where we want to be.

Work in Progress by Mariann Lopera, creator of She Writes for Jesus blog, uses biblical insights, reflections, and personal stories to help prepare young people in their journey through adulthood.

Topics in the book include, among others:
• Purpose and calling
• Living in purity
• How to face sufferings and successes
• The importance of rest
• Being a good steward of God’s resources

Work in Progress is written with sincerity, empathy, and an invitation for readers to keep seeking God as they navigate the world.

Work in Progress talks about honoring and living for Jesus in your adulting season. It contains 15 different topics with testimonies, biblical insights, and reflections.