NO COMPARISON

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

While on his third missionary journey and during his stay in Corinth, Paul wrote to the Roman believers about the experience of suffering. By this time he had been ministering for approximately twenty-four years and had experienced many adverse situations. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul attested to being in prison numerous times, whipped, faced death at the hands of man, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, caught in storms, experienced flooding, sleeplessness, hunger, overheating, thirst, cold, sickness, and treachery.

Despite all the hardships, Paul declared that he would not allow anything to keep him from the love of God. Paul understood that this life is fleeting; it is just a moment, but eternity is forever. Those who choose to enter into a relationship with God will experience untold blessings, things unimaginable to our human minds.

It is vitally important that believers remember Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is a few days old and full of trouble. Everyone, from infants to senior citizens, faces life issues; no one is exempt. In this life, we deal with mental and emotional struggles such as fears, depression, and loneliness. We deal with relational problems such as abandonment, divorce, marital discord, parent-child conflict, and broken friendships. Economic and financial problems such as unemployment, debt, housing issues, poverty, and food insecurity are also experienced. We deal with physical problems such as injuries, deformities, disabilities, chronic pain, aging concerns, and unknown diseases. We are confronted with social problems such as war, lawlessness, racism, political conflict, homelessness, and crime. All of these areas have led individuals who felt the undue weight of problems to commit suicide because they could not see their way out, and they lost hope. Believers, we must not give in; we must not lose hope; we must not become overwhelmed with life issues. The more we feel oppressed, the more we must confess the Word. We can’t lose sight of the promises of God and that which He has in store for those that love Him. We must remember that in His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore, and there is nothing that can compare to that.