Present Suffering vs Future Glory
Silence and stillness before God (2 minutes)
Scripture reading
Scripture reading:
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Devotional
Paul does not minimise suffering. He himself endured hardship, persecution, and pain. Yet he places suffering in perspective, set against the glory to come, present sufferings shrink. They are real, but they are not final. They hurt, but they cannot outweigh the joy that awaits.
This verse offers both honesty and hope. Honesty, because it acknowledges suffering is part of life in Christ. Hope, because it insists that the glory ahead is so weighty, so magnificent, that it renders current pain incomparable. Paul invites us to shift our gaze from the temporary to the eternal.
This is not escapism but faith. Suffering reminds us that the world is broken, but glory assures us that God is making all things new. One day, the veil will be lifted, and the glory of Christ will be revealed in us. On that day, every tear will be wiped away, and suffering will be swallowed up in joy.
Question to consider
How might viewing your current struggles in light of future glory change the way you endure them?
Prayer
Father, thank you that present suffering is not the end of the story. Fix my eyes on the glory to come, and give me strength to endure with hope.
Conclude with silence (2 minutes)
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