And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4
“ Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,” we used to sing in biology class, as Mr. Dusek wheeled the actual human skeleton named “Charlie” to the front of the classroom. “Foot bone connected to the heel bone; heel bone connected to the ankle bone; ankle bone connected to the leg bone,” and so on and so forth the lyrics went. The song ends with, “Hear the word of the Lord.” (If you’re unfamiliar with this old song, check it out on YouTube.) With apologies to the apostle, when I read Paul’s wonderful sequence in these verses, it always reminds me of Charlie.
I know that you and I want to experience the incredible peace only God can pro- vide. We want to have “obtained access through him by faith into this grace” (v. 2). And we want to run like Charlie used to run. So here’s the sequence: peace, affliction, endurance, character, and hope.
Peace is what we long for. But peace cannot be achieved in a vacuum. It’s the tran- quility that comes from having successfully completed a tough assignment like the challenge of gracefully accepting and embracing affliction. Peace is connected to affliction. You and I have experienced affliction (or suffering). This may have been our own physical pain, the traumatic loss of a job, or the anguish that comes with walking through these struggles with a family member or close friend. Suffering is a fact of life, but Paul gives us good news: affliction is connected to endurance.
Endurance is that quality that keeps us from quitting. It’s the stuff of the final lap, when our energy is completely gone but our minds push us on to the finish line. Endurance is that discipline that helps us tenaciously hang in there when we don’t feel like it—when discouragement and frustration hover over us like a dark cloud. Endurance is like the raw material of life, and Paul has more good news: endurance is connected to character.
Character is who we are when no one’s looking. It’s the structure of our lives that includes many nonnegotiables: truth-telling, faith, fidelity, kindness, transparency, tenderness, patience. And this is built through learning endurance, which is perfected through affliction. Strong character results from developing good habits and from determining not to be overtaken by a culture that often encourages instant gratification over integrity. Finally, Paul gives us one more piece of good news: character is connected to hope.
Hope is the stuff that gets us out of bed in the morning. Hope is the reason we can look forward to today and tomorrow and next week. God is fashioning you to be His man. But He wants this to also be what you dream about, what you hope for. “For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose” (Php 2:13). God’s promise is to help us want what He wants, then to help us do it. God gives us a future, and then He plants hope in our hearts to trust in His presence when we eventually get there. And this trust brings peace.
So there we have it—the full circle: peace, affliction, endurance, character, hope, and back to peace again. Although I can’t imagine the tune being as catchy as “Dry Bones,” maybe someone will come up with a song to help us remember this wonderful truth. Until they come up with the ditty, Romans 5 will have to do. You know, “Hear the Word of the Lord.”