Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The Joy of Redemption
Alyssa Thomas
Epiphany MTC, NY
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
Nearly all of us cannot
go a day without at least acknowledging that struggle is a daily facet of life.
Humans, by nature, are creatures of immense complexity. Despite the many things
that we have made for ourselves, we often find ourselves experiencing hardship
on almost a daily basis. We may experience bad days, issues with money and
property, emotional stress and hardship, and the like. Life is riddled with
suffering.
The suffering we experience in daily life is acknowledged throughout the bible, and directly addressed in Romans 8:18-25, which states, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time… we ourselves… have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
This passage clarifies that our suffering serves a very valuable purpose. God has made it so that our suffering can lead us to our freedom from it – that our hardship enables us to surpass it by building our character. When we pray to God about our suffering, we acknowledge his strength in our weakness, and His grace makes us better people. Through His grace, we can achieve things that will show to others how we are truly Children of God, and worthy of His kingdom. Suffering makes us hopeful of all we can achieve, because God believes that we can achieve these things.
The suffering we experience in daily life is acknowledged throughout the bible, and directly addressed in Romans 8:18-25, which states, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time… we ourselves… have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
This passage clarifies that our suffering serves a very valuable purpose. God has made it so that our suffering can lead us to our freedom from it – that our hardship enables us to surpass it by building our character. When we pray to God about our suffering, we acknowledge his strength in our weakness, and His grace makes us better people. Through His grace, we can achieve things that will show to others how we are truly Children of God, and worthy of His kingdom. Suffering makes us hopeful of all we can achieve, because God believes that we can achieve these things.
PRAYER
Father, help us to have
strength and keep hope in times of struggle, and guide us in the ways that will
lead us to the success you have made available for us. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
It is for God that we suffer, with God that we hope, and through God that we overcome.
It is for God that we suffer, with God that we hope, and through God that we overcome.