Suffering has always been a part of the human condition, and we don’t have to look too far in our world today to see it. We live in a world where we not only experience our own suffering but have 24/7 access to the suffering of the world around us. God did not design us to take all of that in; it is simply too much for our human hearts to bear.
Thank goodness Paul shows up in Romans with a gift in the form of a reminder: In the midst of suffering, there is more to come, more to see, more to experience. This is what happens when we step into the fullness of what God has for us in the future glory.
Paul speaks to the reality of human suffering and at the same time leans into God’s truth through his promises. He uses language that helps us not only wait but wait eagerly in joyful anticipation. He wants to make it clear that there is nothing compared to what is to come, and he wants us to know our waiting and suffering will be worth it.
Nothing we are experiencing personally or in the world will compare to the glory God promises us. Yet the suffering, hurt, and challenges we face are real. Through God’s word, we are given hope. We are given something to hold on to. We are given a vision of the glory to come. We are also reminded that in the waiting, the Spirit intercedes for us, and we are not alone in our suffering. God is with us and will make good out of our situation as we hold on to hope for what is to come.
Reflection:
- Consider your own life—what has God taught you about waiting?
- How has God shown up in your suffering?
- What do Paul and the stories in the Bible teach us about hope?