Hope When You Feel Hopeless - Pt 2

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:12-18 ESV).

Yesterday we came to the conclusion that God is not giving you what you deserve. We deserve God’s wrath, yet daily we receive new mercies. The big question then becomes, “How can sickness, suffering, and other tragedies be considered mercy?” We should remember that even when we’re feeling our worst, God is showing us more mercy than we deserve. There is no calamity or tragedy that we can face that is worse than the wrath of God. At the same time, there is no earthly pleasure that can compare to the glory that is to be revealed. In our reading today, the apostle Paul said he faced suffering with the following truth before him: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (v. 18). With this in mind, on our worst day, he’s worthy of thanksgiving and praise for all he’s done. This view of God’s goodness reflects a humble heart before a holy and good God. This perspective enables us to suffer well, knowing that the best is yet to come. But we can go even further. As we fight daily against discontentment, we must interpret everything that comes our way as a reason to rejoice. Burroughs writes: Have good thoughts of God and make good interpretations of his dealings toward you. It is very hard to live comfortably and cheerfully among friends when one makes harsh interpretations of the words and actions of another. The only way to keep sweet contentment and comfort in Christian societies is to make the best interpretations of things we can. Likewise, a primary way to help keep comfort and contentment in our hearts is to make good interpretations of God’s dealings with us. Imagine if we truly believed what the Bible says about how God sees us. It would transform the way we interpret all his actions as mercies. I know that in the midst of my battles with discontentment and sadness, it’s hard to view what is happening in my life as anything but a condemnation and punishment. However, that is not what is happening. God is merely moving me from this world of pain and regret to one of glory and power. It is my good that he is determining with each moment of my life.