Romans 5:2-8 (NIV)
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We have peace with God and that changes everything---I mean everything. We have access by faith into his grace and there is where we are to live. The natural thing to do then is to rejoice in this new found hope as well as we should. Here comes the curve ball, the unexpected--but we also rejoice in our sufferings!! What? We have grace, peace, and we have been justified forever. Now why does Paul go this direction? First reason that is not mentioned here is that followers of Christ are expected to suffer. Our Lord and Savior suffered and we are not above our Savior. Paul at this point does not go into this reason instead Paul takes us into the practical side of suffering. Paul shows us that if we rejoice in our sufferings then growth happens in our lives. These are powerful words that he chooses that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. If we do not rejoice in our sufferings then we become complainers and that produces excuses and excuses turn into character flaws and that gives us a narrow view on life and no hope. The hope that God gives does not disappoint because the Holy Spirit is involved in this process. The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God into our hearts. How do we know God loves us? The Godly died for the ungodly. We are loved as we are so why would God let us down now or in the future? God would not do that to us. Have a great day.