“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” – Romans 5:3
Romans 5:3 tells us that we “glory in tribulations,” a phrase that seems almost contradictory until we understand what Paul means. We don’t rejoice in pain for its own sake—we rejoice because we know what it produces. Trials are not random; they are purposeful. They thrust us toward God, not away from Him. The true believer doesn’t run from difficulty but runs to the Lord in the midst of it. That response brings Him glory. It’s not about pretending to enjoy suffering or putting on a brave face. It’s about having a different vantage point—a spiritual understanding that sees beyond the moment. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” God’s discipline is not punishment—it’s loving instruction.
The world tells us to grit our teeth and push through hardship, to find strength in ourselves. But that kind of perseverance leads to pride or bitterness. The believer’s perseverance is different. It’s rooted in dependence on Christ. James 1:2–4 teaches us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” not because trials are pleasant, but because they produce patience, maturity, and completeness. A true disciple doesn’t just endure—he grows. He learns to rely on God, not himself. He understands that trials are not obstacles but instruments of grace. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” That’s not abandonment—it’s preparation. He teaches us how to walk through a fallen world with wisdom, humility, and trust.
So when trials come, what do they stir in you? Do they push you away from God or pull you toward Him? If you find yourself running to the Lord—even in weakness, even in shame—that’s evidence of true faith. That’s the mark of a disciple who belongs to Him. God doesn’t abandon His children in hardship; He trains them, chastens them, and keeps them. And though it may not feel good, we begin to understand it. We see the purpose. We know that it’s producing something eternal. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” So today, let your trials remind you of who you are in Christ. Let them drive you to your knees. And let your perseverance bring glory to the One who never lets go.
“We glory in tribulations—not because we enjoy suffering, but because we know what it produces. Tribulation works patience, and patience brings experience, and experience gives us hope.” – Chuck Smith
surrendered devotions 