⁸ We are ^(A)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (A)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials ^(B)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(C)the testing of your faith ^(D)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(E)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than ^(C)conquerors through ^(D)him who loved us.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(A)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(B)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(C)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (D)If you are insulted ^(E)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you.

^10 (A)For the sake of Christ, then, ^(B)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^(C)when I am weak, then I am strong.

⁵ For even ^(A)when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—^(B)fighting without and fear within.

⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by ^(A)various trials, ⁷ so that ^(B)the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes ^(C)though it is tested by ^(D)fire—may be found to result in ^(E)praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

³ Not only that, but we ^(A)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^(B)produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and ^(C)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love ^(D)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.