By Brother Brian Shimer
When Olympian, Ilia Malinin, fell four times during his free skate, the champion came in eighth place. Although understandably devastated, Ilia did not retreat into self-pity, but genuinely celebrated gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov’s victory. For this, Ilia is a finalist for the 2026 Fair Play Award which “recognizes acts of sportsmanship, integrity and solidarity witnessed during the Games.” He is being recognized for his character, which was forged through his response to the suffering and perseverance of athletic training.
Certainly, Paul used athletic terminology in Romans 5:3-4, but wrote of something far beyond it. He began the passage with how we have been justified by God through faith (Ro. 5:1-2) and stand in God’s grace. So, “we rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God.”
That’s where he began.
In our verses (5:3-4), Paul wrote how we rejoice in suffering, for suffering produces endurance and endurance, character and character, hope. How exactly does the kind of hope Paul is referring to, get produced from character?
Well, when we turn toward suffering by rejoicing in it, it is like we are opening the door to God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. As a result, God works in us something impossible to produce ourselves. Paul spoke from experience. This hope stuff is deep, broad and foundational.
Remember, Psalm 40:1-3 —
“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the muck and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Hope is the Psalmist’s firm place to stand.
God moves in you, friend, in the middle of the worst of circumstances, as Paul wrote, to produce such hope. Suffering’s fire doesn’t extinguish this hope, but establishes it.
I see this hope demonstrated in so many of my clients’ lives and in the persecuted church today. And, I also think back to Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom, suffering at Ravensbrook during WWII. It was in that dark place, Betsie discovered, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Corrie carried this hope around the world.
May you turn toward and rejoice in the sufferings you encounter, friend. Let God work to produce this kind of hope in you.
