I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. (Romans 8:18 CEV)
We are in a world full of troubles and pains. It is under the curse because of sin. The world groans and we are in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed that we be protected and saved while we are in the world. We are in the world but we are not of the world. So we live differently from the worldly. It gives us pain when we see sin around us. We see sin the way God sees it. But because we are in this world, we are tainted with sins. We groan as the world groans. We want to be delivered just as the world wants to be delivered from agony and pain. There is hope. It is our Christian hope. Hope is not a wish or a desire as the world uses it. Our hope is a divine salvation from this world of sins. It is based strongly in the promises of God. We know and we are assured that God’s plan for us is best. He arranges things and circumstances for the good of us who love Him. Loving Him is obeying and serving Him. We suffer in doing good. It is true that we cry and sigh but there is His promise of deliverance. He will wipe away our tears, our sighs will become laughter. He will heal us of our sickness, mend our broken hearts. He does it now with His Holy Spirit, who comforts and encourages us when we are in trouble. Best of all, we wait for the glory that is to come when God gives us the promise of eternal life. All these eternal blessings cannot be compared to the sufferings we now experience. Hold on to this blessed hope.
