We were torn to heal and that is God’s purpose for for our trials and sufferings.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18 NIV
Suffering?
We tend to think our suffering is because of Satan, and in some cases this is true. But suffering can also be from the hand of God.
God will allow suffering in our lives to expose the sin that we need to deal with. But that’s not the only reason we encounter hardships.
Suffering. We tend to think our suffering is because of Satan, and in some cases this is true. But suffering can also be from the hand of God.
God will allow suffering in our lives to expose the sin that we need to deal with. But that’s not the only reason we encounter hardships.
In John 9 we read of the man born blind. Was his suffering due to his sins or perhaps those of his parents? Neither. Jesus said the man was born blind so that the works of God might be made manifest in him.
We may never know why we’ve had to suffer. But we can live in such a way that our suffering brings glory to God. Job lost ten children. Paul lost his health. Naomi lost a husband and two sons. Jesus was beaten and crucified. All of their hardships and agony brought glory to God.
Imagine that your friend called you and complained, “My business card was drawn out a fish bowl at the convention and I have won an all-expense paid trip to Paris, but I suffered a paper cut when I opened the envelope announcing the prize. I am very upset.”
You’d say, “why be upset? A little paper cut isn’t worth considering, compared to the excitement of a trip to Paris.”
That’s the argument Hod makes in Romans 8:18. Granted, our trials and troubles in life are after more than paper cuts. But our coming trip to New Jerusalem and the glories to follow are a lot greater than the trip to Paris. The apostles Paul, who wrote these words, has been shipwrecked, flogged, bound in stocks, beaten with rods, chained, stones, and treated like a dog. Yet he said his sufferings weren’t worth comparing with coming Glory.
I face daily life challenges big or small daily. Who doesn’t? What do you do? Sometimes, I truly think the enemy is playing trick on me. Hah! Yeah! The enemy😜 and sometimes I wonder whether or not God is testing me. Do I freak out, stress out, give in or do I stand strong and lean on on God’s promises?
See, knowing the certainty of the future glory gives me hope to persevere daily through the setbacks. If we become anxious or depressed in trials and lose hope, it’s because we’ve forgotten the absolutely certain outcome: Future glory forever with Christ! Yes, there is present suffering because we live in a fallen world. But God has promised future glory. Keeping that in view will enable you to persevere any suffering with hope.
Glory?
Paul said: In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Even in pain and suffering, we are not losers, we are better than conquerors, because we share in the victory of Jesus Christ. Our prize, our inheritance is the eternal glory of God! The prize is infinitely greater than the cost.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38-39). Nothing can separate us from the plan that God has for us. Absolutely nothing can separate us from his love! We can be confident in the salvation he has given us.
Friends, In this world we will have tribulations, but those tribulations will not have the final say. The suffering that they bring will not destroy us nor do they have to define us. Our Lord endured suffering on the pathway to glory and He enables His followers to do the same. Christians are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
That future hope gives us present strength to continue the life of faith with joy.
Whatever you are going through today, we can live in Romans 8:18. For our light and momentary affliction is working for us a mare more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. One second of glory will outweigh a lifetime of suffering. You better believe it and stand firm in faith! Glory is ahead!
– Flore💕
