Romans 8:18 “My present sufferings pale in comparison to the future glory that God has stored up for me in my life”.

There are times when our sufferings feel overwhelming, so much that it can literally make us feel like we are on the Battlefield.  

As I pondered over the word “Sufferings” I wanted to know more specifically what the definition for it meant.  In Webster’s dictionary it describes it this way: Suffering is the state or experience of one that suffers. It is defined as the bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss; pain endured, distress, loss or injury incurred.

With that thought in mind I can easily understand how someone can move from suffering into a place that feels like the battlefield when they are hurt, wounded or in severe emotional distress, it somehow becomes a natural response to lash out. It’s almost like saying we need someone else to feel our pain with us.

Pondering over the scripture “Sufferings pale in comparison to the future glory that God has stored up for me in my life”.

Do we allow our sufferings to overshadow the glory God has for us? 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I struggle to stay positive and encouraged when my heart and mind feel as though they are at war.  As I ponder over this thought I am reminded of the movie War Room, starring Priscilla Shirer, (if you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to check it out) in it, the writers incorporated an illustration about the military and how they work to build a strategic plan. These plans are then given to the soldiers and are used as their battlefield tactics. These plans teach the men how to protect themselves and what weapons are needed for taking down the enemy. 

Now, granted, we may not necessarily visualize our battle in the way the military does, but we should. We walk into a battlefield every day, especially with our faith and our beliefs.  In today’s time the evidence is there, and scripture teaches us that we will not escape sufferings. 

As I flip through the scriptures this morning, I find my notes that I jotted down some time ago that read, “Suffering is placed next to God’s glory”, “Sadness is formulated with Joy”, and “Despair is mixed in with the Hope that is set before us”.

 It’s hard to imagine suffering being placed next to God’s joy, which leads me to believe we would need to understand the Lord’s joy versus what we believe joy should be like.  Although I do struggle and at times drown out God’s glory in my life, my sufferings at times help me to keep my eyes off the things of this world, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life and in those times, I do become more Intune to leaning upon the Lord, to stay close under the shelter of His wings.

As I flip my pages over to what Paul said in Romans 5:3, he said that “suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  

So, my encouragement to us this day, let’s not let our suffering overshadow God’s glory that He has for our lives, let’s not allow them to move us into the battlefield without a plan. Build your  strategic plan, take up your shield (word of God), put your whole armor of God on and learn to renew your mind everyday as you prepare yourself to go out into the battlefield (the world), go out knowing that because of Christ, you can do all things through him who strengthens you even when you think you can’t take that next step.

Kim Brasher

oakim38@yahoo.com

9365440787

Po Box 431

Lovelady, Texas 75851

US