The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:18 (NKJV): “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
The sufferings we experience in this life are very real, and difficult to deal with as we negotiate our way through them.
The psalmist David gives us encouragement in Psalm 27:1 (NKJV): “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Also, in Psalm 105:4 (NKJV), David exhorts: “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”
When we know that God is with us and that He is the strength of our lives, we can turn over our concerns to Him, and trust Him to do what is best to help us throughout any situation. As we seek God, He helps us by guiding us in His word to that which will encourage and strengthen us, and we can even experience the miracle of His peace during our sufferings.
The apostle Paul points out in the well-known verses of Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV): “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ...”
We can have confidence that any and every circumstance in our lives can be used by God for our good. We who love God and are called according to His purpose can experience His transforming power at work in our attitudes and actions. God can use our present sufferings to shape our lives and to conform us to the image of Jesus.
Jesus came to earth to show us what God is like, and He demonstrated to us the nature of a humble servant. As God uses our present sufferings to mould us into the image of Jesus, we are able to show compassion to others because of what we have experienced. Thus we possess the ability to identify with them in their sufferings, and we can share with them the hope that we have in Christ.
No circumstance (or suffering) in our lives is wasted, because God can use it – either for our good, or for the good of others.
Robbie Bryant
Love God and Love others