For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
The Bible is filled with passages that speak to the amount of suffering that a Christian will endure within his/her lifetime… There is not a single scripture that speaks to the life of a Christian being easy; but on the contrary, there are many which depict suffering, hardships, and tribulations… The writer of this passage (Paul) was a man who once found pleasure in persecuting others; however, in his conversion, God speaks to the suffering that Paul will endure in a conversation that takes place in the 9th chapter of Acts with a man by the name of Ananias… But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Suffering is a vital part of the Christian journey; faith is developed through suffering, rewards are accumulated through suffering and growth is displayed through suffering… So many people proclaim a relationship on the surface with Jesus Christ; however, in the suffering stages their actions say others… Even in the most uncomfortable situations, we are reminded today that they are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…
The results that come from your suffering will negate the suffering that you experience… Nobody really likes to suffer, but as a child of God, we must speak the truth and know that there are no shortcuts on this journey… One thing that is certain in this life is that you will experience hardships and obstacles… I don’t think a day goes by in our lives where there isn’t at least one thing that takes place which causes us heartache, stress, or disappointment… I have heard so many people speak of problems that they are facing and I believe we all would agree with the saying, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or going into a storm…” Although difficulties are never something you want to face, the bible tells us several times (today’s focus verse is an example) about the affliction that we will experience… In today's verse, Paul is charging the Church of Rome just as he is charging us today; don’t become weary, don’t give up, don’t be discouraged because you have to go through some sad days or sleepless nights; don’t become fearful because it seems like the enemy has the upper hand. Your trails are tools for growth and purging, the glory to be revealed is made possible through your suffering. So endure the storm(s), let the events water the seed of glory inside you! Once the glory comes forth, you will be happy you endured!
ALL FOR HIS GLORY!
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