Incomparable Suffering
Photo by Brut Carniollus, from Unsplash. More photography can be found here: https://unsplash.com/@brut
Where does our suffering end? What is the ultimate outcome of enduring suffering?
Our suffering can cause insecurities and doubts to arise within us. We can doubt that God loves us and we can doubt that we are God’s children as a result of our suffering.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:16-18, ESV).
We can have confidence that we are God’s children, because God gives us his Spirit to affirm that we are children of God.
As God’s children, we are beneficiaries, along with Jesus. We are joint heirs with Christ.
This inheritance comes through suffering with Jesus. When we suffer with Jesus, we are also glorified with Jesus. Our suffering has purpose and direction. Our suffering ends in God’s glory, and in our being glorified with him.
As Paul said, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
May we trust that the sufferings of this life are not comparable to the glory that God is bringing about for his children.
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Collect For Tuesday in Holy Week: “O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped and did not hide his face from shame and spitting: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Photo by Brut Carniollus, from Unsplash. More photography can be found here: https://unsplash.com/@brut
