Suffering Now, Glory Later
Romans 8:18
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.
Thought:
Paul does not pretend that suffering is light or easy. He was beaten, imprisoned, slandered, and rejected. Yet after carefully considering all he endured, he concluded that the glory God has promised is so much greater and so wonderful that our present suffering is not even worthy of comparison. He is not minimizing pain. He is magnifying future glory. When we look only at what is happening today, it feels crushing. But when we place today’s pain on the scale next to eternal glory, the balance shifts dramatically.
In daily life, this means we are invited to see every trial in light of eternity. The diagnosis, the disappointment, the broken relationship, the lonely season, all of it is real but temporary. God has promised a future in which tears, pain, and death will be gone forever and our bodies will be raised in glory. When we remember this, endurance is not blind optimism. It is faith in God’s certain promise. Instead of asking only how to escape suffering, we can ask how to walk through it with our eyes fixed on the coming glory that will far outweigh it all.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I bring my present suffering to You today. Help me see my pain in the light of the glory You have promised. Lift my eyes beyond what I can see and feel right now. Strengthen my heart to endure with faith, knowing that what is coming is not worthy to be compared with what I face today. I trust Your promise and place my hope in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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.
Thought:
Paul does not pretend that suffering is light or easy. He was beaten, imprisoned, slandered, and rejected. Yet after carefully considering all he endured, he concluded that the glory God has promised is so much greater and so wonderful that our present suffering is not even worthy of comparison. He is not minimizing pain. He is magnifying future glory. When we look only at what is happening today, it feels crushing. But when we place today’s pain on the scale next to eternal glory, the balance shifts dramatically.
In daily life, this means we are invited to see every trial in light of eternity. The diagnosis, the disappointment, the broken relationship, the lonely season, all of it is real but temporary. God has promised a future in which tears, pain, and death will be gone forever and our bodies will be raised in glory. When we remember this, endurance is not blind optimism. It is faith in God’s certain promise. Instead of asking only how to escape suffering, we can ask how to walk through it with our eyes fixed on the coming glory that will far outweigh it all.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I bring my present suffering to You today. Help me see my pain in the light of the glory You have promised. Lift my eyes beyond what I can see and feel right now. Strengthen my heart to endure with faith, knowing that what is coming is not worthy to be compared with what I face today. I trust Your promise and place my hope in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Posted in More to the Sermon
Recent
Archive
2026
January
The Power of FaithPraying in the SpiritA Call to ReturnThe Burden of SilenceThe Act of CleansingBuilding Altars of RenewalThe Power of RepentanceLetting Go of the OldThe Challenge of SanctificationBurdens Left BehindGod’s Part, Our ResponseFreedom in ReleaseLifting Our Eyes to the True SourceThe Problem of Looking at Temporary SolutionsFinding Hope Amidst HopelessnessInterceding for Others and Drawing Near to GodEmbracing God’s Tests with FaithThe True Command in the Great CommissionIdentifying with Christ through BaptismTeaching and Growing in ChristBeing Present in God's WorkObedience Over Expectations
February
Unequally YokedA Door of HopeThe True Vine, Not Just a SymbolAbiding, Not Just BelievingPruned to Bear MoreConnected in Truth, Not Just in AppearanceMuch Fruit and Lasting JoyHelp From the SanctuaryRejoicing in Past SalvationConfidence in Present HelpTrusting God With the FutureStanding in Certain VictoryThe Question Behind Our QuestionsThe Two Anchors That Hold EverythingNails, Hooks, and the CrossLove as Our Vertical and Horizontal AnchorAnchored in the Storm, Not Managing the Waves
March
Receiving His Word, Not Just Hearing ItLove Proven by ObedienceLiving in the Father’s Loving FellowshipManifested LoveFrom Curiosity to CommunionOf God or Not Of God?Hearing With The HeartNew Heart, New EarsLove For Christ Shown In Love For His WordsIdentify Yourself By Your Response To The WordJesus Shows Us the FatherTrue Greatness is SubmissionJesus Sees as the Father SeesWhen Healing is Delayed, His Presence is NotThe Son Who Saves and SustainsThe Foundation of FaithWalking with God in a Dark WorldFaith That Follows When the Way Is UnclearGod Rewards Those Who Seek HimA Testimony That Pleases GodSeeing God's AppointmentWhat Are You Expecting Jesus To Be?
April
The Donkey and God's FaithfulnessKnowing the Word, but Missing the LordSeeing Jesus ClearlyWhen Peace Is GoneFig Leaves And False CoveringsHiding From The God We NeedGod Comes To Ruined HeartsSeeing People As God Sees ThemChrist Above AllLeaving the Old World BehindBearing the CrossCounting the CostTreasure, Heart, and True DiscipleshipNot Left As OrphansBecause He Lives, I LiveLoving Jesus Through ObedienceGod Makes His Home With UsNo More “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not”Guarding Against Spiritual CancerWe Belong To One BodyThe Power House Of The ChurchThe Nucleus Of The Heart
May
Heal And Build The BodyGod Is LightWalking In The LightFellowship Beyond Our ImaginationCleansed From All SinForgiven Beyond Our MemoryJesus Sees More Than Your ConditionThe Cause Or The CureSpiritual Blindness And The Need For LightObedience And The Touch Of JesusFrom Blindness To WorshipJoy Made Full in a Sanctified LifeKept While We RemainSet Apart by the TruthSanctified for Our SalvationJesus Prays for UsNot Of The World But Still In It
No Comments