In Romans 5:3, Apostle Paul Makes a fascinating statement, "we glory in tribulations.." To make the concept more contemporary, we may use words like, "I enjoy my suffering," or "I joyfully anticipate troubles," or "my pressures are my high points," or "let me talk some more about the horrible things that have happened." The Greek word for tribulation 'thlipsis' is also translated persecution, oppression, distress, affliction, burden, pressure or trouble. It has been used for the long years spent by Joseph in Egyptian prison, seven years of intense famine in Egypt, tremendous persecution experienced by the Church, and Paul's own severe trials and imprisonments. Jesus used this idea in describing a tender plant burned by scorching Sun in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. How is it possible to endure such a degree of intense heat in life with an amazing sense of glorious joy, expectation and boasting (this should be a more appropriate rendering of the word 'glory') What is it that our trials are meant to do in us that makes them worth boasting? What is in Paul's mind when he expresses this idea? In our Greek New Testament, you will notice that this word is primarily a Pauline word. Let us consider the expressions used in chapter 5 of Paul's epistle to the Church in Rome. This was an intensely persecuted Church. If you were a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you might have to be on the run. These people had to leave their houses and live in layers of underground, dark catacombs with a great possibility of someday being found out and thrown as marionettes of entertainment to be killed by gladiators in the arenas in the great Colosseum. You may easily find the stories of some of those martyr dying with joyful faces and praying for their predators as they gave up their lives in front of thousands of mocking spectators, in many cases touched by God forever. Such were the tribulations the Apostle was identifying with as he wrote this portion of Scriptures. He amplifies his thought by comparing his joy in the hope of the glory of God (verse 2, his future in heaven) with his relationship to his troubles. He claims that the reason for this joy is something he knows (verse 3). What did this man of God know? That our troubles have a work to do. Here we see an assembly line kind of arrangement. I would like to call it 'The Assembly Line of Love.' In the factories which produce fascinating cars, it begins with just a huge frame and chassis. As the machine moves through the various sections, parts are getting added and by the time it reaches the finish line, you see this fabulous model of the machine being rolled out. The verses 3-5 state a similar arrangement. From tribulations to patience, from patience to experience, from experience to hope, from hope to shamelessness and then eventually comes the finished product - the love of God poured out in our hearts. Verses 6-10 describe that finished product of the love of God. The love that can love its enemies and friends alike. The love that does not lean on the qualifications of its object, but on its own strengths. Man was primarily created to experience and express the love of God. Man was created to be loved by God and be a lover himself. We lost our loverhood (if there is a word like that!) in the garden of Eden when we sinned. We became lovers of self and sin. Paul is able to boast of his pressures because at the finish line he can see a Rolls Royce being rolled out. Like him, we can see the love of God being formed in the assembly line that begins at the room of suffering. We are being turned into displays of the love of God. God likes to commend (manifest) His glorious love through strange mediums. Our sufferings are one such avenue. In verse 8, God's love was commended to the mankind by the strangest instrument of the Cross. Cross stands at the peak of that assembly line. However, before we close this brief message, let us make it a bit more practical. What am I to do in the midst my intense trial? Notice how Paul began this section in first two verses of the chapter, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." If you have never trusted Christ for your salvation, then that is your first step. Your trials can turn you into a vessel of the love of God. You receive that love by receiving the forgiveness by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if you are a believer, and you are surrounded by intense heat and pressures of life, and if it appears that it is unbearable, then here is something Apostle Paul has for us. You are justified; No matter what God doesn't treat you guilty. You have a relationship with God as His beloved (peace with God). You have a standing in grace of God. You have a future with Him. Have an expectation from God, rejoice, even boast and if I may use this one word to sum it up - Endure! PS - If you would like to enjoy a thought provoking spirituality quiz, then jump to our fun quiz page. You may also watch our YouTube videos. What about learning about life after death?