#BibleChallenge #DailyBread - Romans 8: "Why Do We Suffer?"
St. Paul talks a lot about suffering and advises us to rejoice in affliction: http://ow.ly/1WVvpF. Yet, the question of suffering's purpose remains.
In Chapter 8 of Romans, St. Paul slips in an answer to the question, which is quite compelling. In verse 18 he says, "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."
Basically: the magnitude of the suffering we experience now does not compare to the magnitude of the glory we will experience in God's Kingdom. In other words, we are joyful in suffering because through suffering we are reminded of how immense will be the glory of the Kingdom - should we continue in faithfulness.
No, this knowledge doesn't make suffering any easier. And, St. Paul knows this too.
Hence he reminds us that "the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses" (vs. 26). The Spirit
makes it possible to hope: to remain confident of redemption in the midst of our
suffering. The Spirit helps us to reinforce our hope through prayer - even when we are
so beaten down that we don't know what to pray...how to pray...why to pray. Because of
our hope we are able to persevere in suffering...continuing in faithfulness.
What are your thoughts on suffering?
For more #DailyBread follow Fr. Jah Bread on twitter: @Jah_Bread or like him on
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JahBreadSite.
St. Paul talks a lot about suffering and advises us to rejoice in affliction: http://ow.ly/1WVvpF. Yet, the question of suffering's purpose remains.
In Chapter 8 of Romans, St. Paul slips in an answer to the question, which is quite compelling. In verse 18 he says, "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."
Basically: the magnitude of the suffering we experience now does not compare to the magnitude of the glory we will experience in God's Kingdom. In other words, we are joyful in suffering because through suffering we are reminded of how immense will be the glory of the Kingdom - should we continue in faithfulness.
No, this knowledge doesn't make suffering any easier. And, St. Paul knows this too.
Hence he reminds us that "the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses" (vs. 26). The Spirit
makes it possible to hope: to remain confident of redemption in the midst of our
suffering. The Spirit helps us to reinforce our hope through prayer - even when we are
so beaten down that we don't know what to pray...how to pray...why to pray. Because of
our hope we are able to persevere in suffering...continuing in faithfulness.
What are your thoughts on suffering?
For more #DailyBread follow Fr. Jah Bread on twitter: @Jah_Bread or like him on
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JahBreadSite.
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