I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:18-21)
Most of us have heard or read Romans 8 at some point in our lives, often when we are going through difficult times – because it contains the HUGE promise that brings great comfort. Verses 35-39 remind us, quite clearly, that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.
Nothing.
Not health.
Not sickness.
Not health.
Not sickness.
Not good times.
Not bad times.
NOTHING.
NOTHING.
And since Romans 8 is pretty wonderful at it’s end, I think we often jump ahead to that part we love so much (and why wouldn’t we) to immerse ourselves in that promise when we need it most.
But when we do that, we sometimes miss the amazingness that comes earlier.
Verses 18-21 remind us that something is coming. Something bigger and better than anything we are going through right now.
I don’t often go here, but Eugene Peterson’s Bible Paraphase (The Message) says these verses really well:
“This is why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next.”
God is at work in the world. Right now.
And so we wait for God’s work to be completed.
“This is why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next.”
God is at work in the world. Right now.
And so we wait for God’s work to be completed.
And even though waiting is hard, there is something joyful in that anticipation.
Again, Eugene Peterson talks about the waiting in this lovely way – as Paul writes our waiting is like a pregnant mother:
“that is why the waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.”
“that is why the waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.”
God is working in you too.
Right now.
It’s true.
And like the world, we also wait for God’s work to be completed.
It’s hard to wait, it’s hard to be in pain, or be sick, or be going through something really difficult – but trust that God is at work.
To be clear – God is not making you sick, or in pain, or making you go through something difficult… but God is at work within it.
Making it something new.
Making you new.
And while God works, we wait.
To be clear – God is not making you sick, or in pain, or making you go through something difficult… but God is at work within it.
Making it something new.
Making you new.
And while God works, we wait.
Because when it’s done, when that work is complete, we won’t even be able to handle the awesomeness.
In the meantime – NOTHING can get in between you and God.
NOTHING.
NOTHING.