Paul is sharing the advantages he is experiencing from being justified – put right with God – by his faith. He starts Romans 5 talking about the peace he experiences from his faith. Paul goes on to say that he can even “boast.” That word is a conversation stopper, like “justification,” and draws us into reflection. Paul writes,
“and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, (Romans 5: 2b-3)”
Oxford dictionary defines boasting as, “talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.” The word boast for most of us implies a certain amount of self-focus, and excessive pride that does not seem appropriate with the humility of faith. Faith comes from coming face to face with our limitations, our sinfulness, and crying out for mercy and forgiveness. Paul has just convinced us that everyone is a sinner and that salvation is a gift so how can we boast about something we cannot take credit for?
I was at a lunch gathering last week and the leader asked us to share something unique about our fathers. People shared a special memory of the special moment with their father. That makes me think that Paul would say his father, God, gave him hope to face the future, hope of sharing glory with God. The glory would not be the wonderfulness of Paul’s accomplishments but he would be there when God is truly glorified by his creation. Paul not only boasts about his hope for being present in God’s glory in the future but he boasts about the past, his sufferings. Faith gives us a lens to look through to understand that our sufferings are purposeful. Perhaps it is not a one for one relationship like saying the insurance company paid me enough money in my car accident so I could buy a better car so really the trauma had a benefit. It is not that obvious most of the time. Paul realized that as he looked to God in faith during his sufferings other lives were impacted and for that he could boast.
So, what do you “boast” about right now? I still stumble at the word boast but I can replace it with thanksgiving that credits God and not me. I am not happy that my husband is declining in health but I am thankful for how friends have supported and how I know God is present with him. Take a moment and look as some of your hard moments and see if you can’t see a silver lining in that cloud. Jot it in your journal as a memorial. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 