Present Suffering, Future Glory Beyond Comparison – Romans 8:18
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:18)
The most difficult moments in life come when pain seems endless. When suffering lingers, prayers go unanswered, and even the encouragement of others feels hollow, it is not easy—even for believers—to stay hopeful. Yet in Romans 8, the apostle Paul makes a bold declaration: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” This is not a vague consolation that things will get better in the end; it is a profound spiritual truth to be held onto as we walk through suffering. It is the lens through which faith interprets pain.
Paul was no stranger to suffering. He preached the gospel through beatings, imprisonment, hunger, betrayal, and injustice. So how could he speak of present suffering as “not even worth comparing”? Because he truly believed in the glory that is to come.
Faith Gives Us Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow
The word Paul uses—“I consider” (logizomai)—is not a mere emotional reflection but a calculated, reasoned conclusion. His faith was not emotional escapism; it was a clear-eyed vision grounded in eternal truth. No matter how heavy the present burden, it does not even compare to the weight of the coming glory. That’s not poetic optimism—it’s the most grounded form of realism. Faith does not ignore or deny suffering, but it reinterprets it through God’s eternal perspective.
Today, many believers hope that faith will solve their immediate problems—healing from illness, financial breakthroughs, restored relationships. God surely works in our daily lives. Yet Romans 8 is not about short-term answers. It calls us to a long-range view—a reorientation toward eternity. God does not disregard the pain we endure. Rather, He uses suffering to refine our faith and prepare us to bear the eternal weight of glory that will one day be revealed.
God is not looking for a life free from hardship but for a heart that remains faithful through it. Paul saw suffering as the shadow of glory. The darker the shadow, the brighter the light beyond.
What Is the Glory That Awaits Us?
The glory Paul speaks of is not mere comfort in heaven. It is full union with God, the transformation into Christ’s likeness, and life in God’s kingdom where sin, death, and pain are no more. Paul knew this glory. That’s why his afflictions felt light in comparison.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17, he echoes this: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Suffering is not just something to get through—it is God’s workshop for preparing glory within us.
Those who walk in faith learn through suffering both their weakness and God’s overwhelming grace. In times of trial, we cling more closely to the Word, pray more earnestly, and desire eternity more than earthly security.
In the end, suffering becomes the path to glory. That path is narrow and steep, but it leads to a destination that will never disappoint. This is the hope the gospel offers. Our suffering is temporary and limited; God’s glory is eternal and infinite. The weight of the two cannot even be compared. Paul says he knows this. And he calls us to see the same.
The world falls apart in the face of suffering—seeking blame, asking why, and often falling into despair. But the believer searches for God’s purpose in it, anchors their faith more deeply, and fixes their eyes on what is eternal. Paul does not speak of a faith that avoids suffering but one that overcomes it.
This is the faith that views the present through the lens of eternity. That lens gives birth to boldness and endurance. We must remember that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).
Suffering may break us down, slow us, and cause us to pause—but that’s not where the story ends. God meets us in those very places, shapes us more deeply, and prepares us for glory that cannot be compared.
Right now, you may see nothing. But God is at work, and He will fulfill His purpose. So we do not lose heart in the face of suffering. Because this, too, will pass—and the glory that follows will never fade.
Maeil Scripture Journal | One Verse a Day
