Romans 8:18-30
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Jesus says that only God is Good...God is always good, that is the Way that He is...So when bad things happen to people, God has not stopped being good...We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose...For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the Image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters...And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified...Present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory of God and what will be revealed in us at the time of our death...There is hope in Good...We hope for what we do not yet have, and we wait for it patiently...
Author and Pastor John Piper says, “God will not turn away from doing you good...He will keep on doing good...He doesn't do good to His children sometimes and bad to them other times...He keeps on doing good and He never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages...When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good...It means He is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving Him.”...