Rom.5:2-5 says, “…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Often, when the Bible describes the revelation of God’s glory (God’s glory: His character and acts; described here as the object of our hope and the perspective through which we rejoice) it is related to our suffering (Rom.8:18, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:13 and 5:1 to mention a few). Hope and perseverance in the midst of suffering is the example we see in Jesus described in Heb.12:2, “who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross.” That is why Paul encourages us here and James, also, in 1:2-4, to rejoice in hardships knowing that they will produce patience, character, hope and maturity, realizing that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory, that far outweighs them all (2 Cor.4:17),” and because of that, like Paul, we can “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties,” remembering that when we “are weak He is strong (2 Cor.12:10).” Through these trials He is developing me and conforming me to His character, He is showing Himself strong and revealing His glory and He is accomplishing His will and purpose (for my good and His - Rom.8:28) and in that I can and will rejoice.
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