“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared to the glory to be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Perhaps no area of God’s sovereign control presents a greater puzzle to believers than does the problem of suffering. Why do we suffer? How can we be sure that God loves us if we have to endure such suffering? How can a Christian be victorious even when facing terrible suffering? These are some of the questions faced by every believer during some time of trial in life. Here in Romans 8, the apostle Paul deals with this difficult subject and provides some principles for handling suffering in a way that truly honors God.
In Romans 8:18-27, Paul provides four principle and four keys for handling suffering. First, he begins by reminding us that no suffering, no matter how great or how long, is worth comparing to the glory God will give us in heaven for bearing that suffering properly (vs. 18). We may experience some terrible times of suffering, but God’s future reward will make us say, “It was worth it all.” Like the athlete who struggles and strains to win the ultimate victory, the believer who suffers acknowledges the reality of the pain, but sets his sights on the glory to come later.
Second, Paul reminds us that all suffering is temporary (vv. 18-19). It may be long, even life-long, but it does not last forever. Creation understands this–we often forget it. That’s why Paul speaks about all of creation waiting in “eager expectation” for that day when God’s children will receive their future reward. In contemporary terms, all of creation is “on the edge of its seat” or “standing on tip-toe” to see the ultimate outcome of God’s great work in us through the suffering we are now experiencing. Most of all, creation understands that a day is coming when all this suffering will pass away–it’s all temporary.
Third, Paul reminds us that all suffering is a consequence (vs. 20-21). We often wonder why there is suffering in this world. Paul gives us the reason: all of creation was placed under bondage in the Fall. Every suffering experienced in this life is in some way related to sin. Before the Fall, all of creation functioned together in beautiful harmony. There was no sickness, no pain, no death. But when sin entered into the world, it not only affected man, all of creation was also affected by sin. All suffering is a consequence of the bondage of sin this world was placed under.
Fourth, suffering is universal. In verse 22, Paul notes, “the whole creation groans.” Suffering has touched all of creation. No part of it is immune. No one of us is exempt. Suffering is universal.
Additionally, Paul also provides us with four keys to handling suffering in our lives. First, he encourages us to focus on the purpose, not the pain. In Romans 8:28-29, he reminds us that God is working through all things in our lives, both good and bad, both pleasure and suffering, to accomplish His purpose: to make us more like Jesus. At times, that process will involve pain. Even Jesus, “though he was a son,” learned obedience “by the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Obviously, we have a much greater need to learn obedience and it is often through sufferings that the Lord teaches us.
Second, Paul tells us to focus on the glory, not the groan. The illustration he alludes to in verses 22-23 comes from childbirth. Every woman who has ever gone through childbirth knows the pain that is involved. But those who have been through it will go through it again because they focus on the great joy of the child born and not on the pain of the childbirth. Someone once noted that he had never seen a bumpersticker that said, “Let me tell you about my labor pains.” But it is the rare parent who is not eager to tell others about the son or daughter whose birth was worth enduring any amount of labor pains.
Paul’s encouragement to suffering believers is the same. Yes, the pain is real, but the result is worth all the pain we experience. We must focus on the glory that comes when the labor process is complete.
Third, we must learn to focus on the hope, not on the wait. In verses 24-25, Paul reminds us that our hope provides a confident assurance that God will provide for us in the future. Our problem is that we tend to put our focus on the waiting process rather than keeping our eyes on the hope that God has promised for us.
Fourth, we must focus on His presence, not on our weakness. In verses 26-27, Paul plainly acknowledges our weaknesses in times of suffering. We don’t know what to pray for. We don’t pray as we ought. We don’t often know what the will of God is for the particular circumstance we are facing. We are not certain how He will “work all things together for good.” But Paul tells us not to worry. God has placed His Spirit within us. He knows what are needs our (better than we do) and He knows our hearts. He knows what the perfect will of the Father is and He prays for us when we are not sure what to pray or how to pray it. During our times of trial, we must remember that the Spirit who knows us and the will of the Father perfectly is continually interceding perfectly for us.
Suffering is certainly common to all believers. But according to Paul, our present sufferings do not impede the work of God in us. And no matter what we suffer here, God will reward us far more greatly in eternity. That’s why the apostle could proclaim with confidence: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in us.”
Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International
