As I closed my eyes to sleep after an especially challenging day, the thought flooded my mind, sort of a half sigh, half cry, “Wow, that was a difficult day! I hope I don’t have to repeat that one anytime soon!”
Immediately I sensed a comforting response whispered from my loving Savior, “Hang on, my child. Soon you’ll have an eternity of good days ahead! The few hard days that you are experiencing now will be almost forgotten! “
This Bible text really speaks to what I realized in that comforting thought:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NIV
It’s like putting all our present sufferings on one side of a scale and all the joys we will experience in heaven on the other; finding that the joys FAR outweigh the sufferings. It’s not even worth comparing!
However that doesn’t mean we should minimize all the suffering that each of us experience on this planet because of sin. We each experience very real suffering and the Bible never downplays our pain. It helps us know where to fix our eyes in the midst of it.
Our suffering will pale in comparison to the joy, peace and happiness we will experience. Our present pain is temporary, but the glory ahead is eternal.
I often keenly experience “the sufferings of this present time.” The fact that my body doesn’t work is like being locked in a straight jacket. Sometimes I am flooded with a tsunami-sized longing to do something simple like walk down the gravel road to the river. This is something Kevin does daily and how I desire to go with him again! Just once! But my loving Savior promises to make it all up to me very soon!
Nick Vujicic, Australian evangelist and motivational speaker known by his theme of, “No Limbs, No Limits” beautifully shares this heavenly perspective. Don’t miss watching him share some inspiring truths in the following link: link. In it he profoundly shares the thought that he would much rather go through life now without arms and legs than to miss out on that one hug in heaven of someone weeping for joy and saying, “Thank you for helping me believe that this place called heaven is real! ” What a day that will be! It will all be worth it!
Echoing Nick’s thought, 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
In closing, here’s three things you can do when you’re feeling weighed down by trials and suffering.
1. Don’t hide your suffering. You may not need to share it with the world, but perhaps find a trusted friend who can help support and pray for you. Try to share without complaining, but with a faith filled focus. Perhaps prefaced with something like, “I know that the Lord is going to help me! He has a plan.”
2. Don’t make choices dictated by your present suffering. Remember that things aren’t always as they appear. Focus heavenward. God isn’t wasting our pain, He’s using it to mold and shape us.
3. Cling to Jesus. When life gets hard, run to Jesus! Pour out your heart to Him. He cares and understands our pain.
If you’re in my corner very long you’ll know that one of my phrases that I often say is: “There’s a better day coming!” It’s true friends! Hang on! There’s a better day coming!
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