Suffering

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5.1-5

What are these positive results of suffering? Remember that Paul is telling us how suffering affects a person who knows he or she is justified strictly by grace, not works. In that case, Paul says suffering begins a chain reaction:

Suffering leads to “perseverance”(v 3). 

This is a word that really means “single-mindedness.”Suffering makes us “focus”—it helps us focus on what is really important. It makes us remember what really is lasting, helps us to re-align priorities, and so on. It removes distractions.

“Perseverance”leads to “character”(v 4). 

This is a word that really means “testedness.”It is a quality of confidence that comes from having been through an experience. It only comes from following through and doing your duty despite it all. And the result is a growing poise that only comes from the experience. Suffering, if it first leads you to focus on God and proper priorities, will lead to greater confidence as you come through it.

All this leads to growth in “hope,”

which is a stronger assurance of and confidence in one’s peace, access to God, and future glory(5.1-3). Suffering removes from us rival sources of confidence and hope; other places we might look to for our sense that, deep down, we are OK, and that our future will be OK. Suffering drives us to the one place where we find real hope, real confidence and certainty: God.

(Tim Keller, Romans For You)