Romans 8:18 · KJV
"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."
King James Version
What does Romans 8:18 mean? →Passage Context
Devotional Reflection
Life is hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something. This line from the movie "The Princess Bride" is a powerful example of how true it is. But it doesn't always hold true! People who follow Jesus will have much better times ahead of them than we can even begin to imagine. "Oh, that will be glory for me... when by Thy grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory," goes the old song.
Prayer
Please, All-Powerful God, give me the courage and vision to see from afar the ultimate grace that You have waiting for me and to truly believe that You are working to bring me home to You and to that glory. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Does it make sense? Oh yes! It's well worth the effort. We can't even begin to think about the glory that God has planned for us. No matter how hard, bad, or painful our journey through this world is, the life we will have with God will be so much better. Does that mean my problems aren't important or have no meaning? Not even close! But the fact that we will have glory with God makes it more than worth it to keep going, be faithful, and receive His glorious reward!
Prayer
Father, I admit that I don't like pain, suffering, disappointment, persecution, or sadness. I do believe, though, that You will keep Your promises. I hold on to the promise that the glory You have planned for me is much bigger than the problems I have to deal with. Give me strength for the days ahead, and no matter what I'm going through, use me to bring You glory. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Paul went through hard times. In 2 Corinthians 11:22–33, you can read about some of the hard things he had to go through. His "present sufferings" are much worse than most of our problems. Paul, however, was sure that the glory he would have with Christ (cf. Colossians 3:1–4) and the blessings he would receive would be so great that his troubles would seem small. We will also share in that glory. That's great news, isn't it?
Prayer
You are awesome, glorious, and majestic, Holy and All-Powerful God. I'm thankful that you reached down and saved me. Father, most of the time I have strong faith and am sure about my future. But when I'm going through hard things, my faith can sometimes waver. Dear God, give me the courage and boldness to face these problems, knowing that they are small compared to the glory you will share with me when Jesus comes back.
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