How Does God Use Suffering For Our Own Good? Romans 8

 

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Paul moves from a discussion of our slavery and freedom through Christ to the topic of suffering. Why does God allow suffering is always a complicated subject. Though I might risk simplfying this challenging topic, I think this passage can help us understand the purpose in suffering at least for Christians. In the context of Romans 8, "present sufferings" relates to the suffering we experience by fighting our own sinful nature and seeing the consequences of our behavior. It is also suffering due to the brokenness in the world that often we experience even though we did nothing to cause it.  Paul gives hope in the face of the certain suffering we all face by stating that our present sufferings will be nothing in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us.  That is something you need to think about a lot to appreciate its significance.

Note the phrase "the glory revealed in us".  In heaven our earthly bodies will be transformed and glorified. Paul also teaches that even Creation is waiting for the children of God to be revealed.  What does that mean? 

Guzik puts it this way, "The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits: Paul considers that creation itself is eagerly awaiting the revealing of the sons of God. This is because the creation was subjected to futility on account of man’s sin, and will benefit from the ultimate redemption of men."  

So just as humankind is fallen, so the Creation is broken.  Literally, we see the brokenness of Creation in natural disasters like hurricanes and floods for example.  Some of the brokenness in Creation is also related to our own sin.  I.e. Not caring for the enviromnent. Exhibiting poor stewardship of the earth's resources God has graciously entrusted to us.   Though one day heaven and earth will pass away, that doesn't mean we shouldn't care for the earth now.  It is created by God as a sign up His goodness and love.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Not only does Creation long for redemption, but we do too.  As a result of the Holy Spirit's dwelling within us, we long to be connected with the Father and Son in a deeper and more personal way than our earthly existence affords.  The Holy Spirit reminds us we are children of God and that God has prepared a place for us to go and be with Him when we die.  Paul says of the Spirit in Ephesians 1, "The Spirit is a downpayment of our future inheritance."  We make a downpayment on a house to guarantee the lender we will pay the loan.  God gives us a downpayment of Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit, as a guarantee he will keep his promise to us as His sons and daughters.  

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Not only is the Spirit a reminder that our home is in heaven, but the Holy Spirit helps us to pray.  Paul says the Holy Spirit intercedes through us with groans and sighs.  Many times we do not know what to pray.  We don't have the words.  This is when the Holy Spirit helps us and gives us the words to pray.  Some think "sighs and groans" refers to speaking in tongues, but that is debateable.  The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us when we pray.  In my experience if I focus less on what I am saying and allow the Spirit to pray through me it almost feels like I am not praying at all.  I think this is more to be experienced than explained, as are most things of the Spirit. 

In verse 28, we have one of the most quoted verses in the bible.  For we know God works all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  Of course, this verse gives much comfort to us when things happen to us that we can't explain. Or, we wonder how and why God could allowed something to happen to us or a loved one.  It is very important we look at the verses after verse 28 to get the full context of what Paul is teaching the believers in Rome.  Importantly note that God works all things together for good to conform us to the image of His Son.  The passage says, "according to His purpose".  So here we have God's purpose in our lives, which is to conform us to the image of His Son.  We call this becomimg Christ-like.  We will never be completely be like Christ, but when we allow the suffering in our life to make us more like Christ, we are seeing God's ultimate purpose in allowing suffering.  This is not to diminish how tough suffering can be, but to show how God can work and use if for good for those love him. Suffering is a consequence of living in a broken world and due to our own brokenness at times as well.  I hope this helps you to see this epic verse in the context I believe Paul intended it for his hearers. 

If you are going through suffering right now, what purpose might God be working for good in your life to make you more like His Son?  When you pray do you depend on the Holy Spirit?  Try it next time you pray allowing time and space for the Spirit to speak through you? Also take time to experience the hope we have of going to our heaven by the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives?  It is the hope we have in and through the Holy Spirit that sets us apart from the world!