Suffering is common to all humans, yet it is something we don’t like to talk about a lot. In some Christian circles, suffering gets connected to a lack of faith or some secret sin you are harboring. While that could be true, most of the time it’s not. On the other side, you must be careful, or you can fall into the trap of believing that living the Christian life exempts you from pain or suffering. This is not true either. The reality is that your faith in Christ is more prone to lead you into suffering rather than avoiding it. As uncomfortable as that truth may make you feel, it should not make you feel hopeless. The Bible reminds us of what is on the other side of that suffering, and Romans 8:18 is one of those reminders.
The verse says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18)
This verse is a reminder that, regardless of how painful it is right now, it won’t always be that way. For a few moments, let’s look into Romans 8:18 together, because if you can grasp the truth of what this verse means, it can change how you face every hard place in your life.
What Is the Context of Romans 8:18?
Paul wrote the book of Romans in AD 57 while he was in Corinth. To have a deeper appreciation of the words of Romans 8:18, you need to understand who Paul was. Few people were more qualified than the Apostle Paul to write about suffering. If there was anyone who knew what it meant to suffer, Paul was that man. His commitment to Christ and the gospel led him to being beaten, stoned, imprisoned, rejected, shipwrecked, and his life being threatened. Yet, it did not steal his resolve. What’s fascinating about Paul is that he began this journey with Christ knowing he would suffer. Remember these words shortly after his conversion.
"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'” (Acts 9:15-16)
When you consider the experiences Paul had, then, these words of Romans 8:18 have greater meaning.
Analyzing Romans 8:18: 3 Key Phrases
“I consider”
The word in the original Greek is logizomai, which means to reckon, to calculate, to arrive at a logical conclusion based on the facts. When Paul writes these words, he is not making a casual statement. What he is saying is that I have thought about this. I have looked at it from every angle and considered the weight of what I am about to say. Paul's tone was serious, his words carrying a depth that went beyond casual conversation. When considering his current suffering against the backdrop of his expected glory, there simply is no comparison. The future glory far outweighs anything we may face now.
“Our present sufferings”
The word suffering means to undergo hardship or pain and to experience the emotions that come with that. This is not just the physical reality tied to suffering, but the emotional agony that comes along with it as well. Consider any situation where you had to endure sickness, death, persecution, divorce, strife, or any other type of suffering. Those things touch you physically and spiritually. It can shake you to your core and sometimes even diminish your will to live. However, please don’t forget that Paul referred to these as present sufferings, which means they have a shelf life, and while they are part of our present, they will not be part of our future.
“are not worth comparing with the glory…”
The word glory points to a radiant perfection or eternal honor we will experience in God’s presence. This will result from God’s divine glory and splendor that he will reveal in all who have placed their hope and faith in Christ. When you put all this together, this verse creates a clear dichotomy between the painful reality of life now versus the exuberant glory of what is coming. What lies ahead so far exceeds what we experience now that it doesn’t even make sense trying to compare the two.
What Are the Theological Implications of Romans 8:18?
One of the most important implications of this verse is to live your Christian life through an eternal lens. What makes the journey with Jesus worth it all is the eternal reward waiting for us. It is critical and necessary to remind yourself of this, especially when the challenges of this life are overwhelming. Paul frequently looked forward to the eternal reward that would be his one day. Consider these things he mentioned in other letters.
- "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14)
- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
We should never consider our Christianity through the temporary lens of time, but through the timeless lens of eternity, because that is our hope. Without that hope, then, Paul also writes that we are to be pitied above all other people on the earth:
"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1 Cor. 15:19)
The reality is you must live in the now, but you should always have an eye on eternity. It is this future hope that gives you the grace to endure the trials and sufferings of life now.
Practical Applications for Believers from Romans 8:18
As Christians, how do we live in the reality of this promise when things in our lives cause us hardship and pain? Here are two things to consider.
Make life decisions based on future glory, not present sufferings.
So much of life and the choices we make are about perspective. When you have the right perspective, then the choices you have to make become clearer. The Bible tells us that Moses chose to be mistreated along with all the other Israelites rather than enjoying the fleeting and temporary pleasures of sin. He made this choice because his eyes were on future glory. In fact, Hebrews 11 lists the names of men and women who made life decisions which included being imprisoned, mocked, beaten, and even stoned because they had their eyes on a future glory. Even Jesus endured the cross because of the great joy that was set before him (Heb.12:2).
As you face life’s choices, always consider them through the lens of future glory. When you see life from this perspective, it becomes easier to make the right decision and to endure whatever comes along with it. Remember, everything you see is temporary (even your trials and sufferings), but the unseen is eternal.
Don’t exchange eternal treasure for temporary pleasure.
When you consider what Paul said in Romans 8:18, another truth leaps forward. Don’t exchange the eternal treasure of tomorrow for the temporary pleasure of today. The world is filled with distractions that often appeal to our ease, our comfort, or the desires of our flesh. While they may feel good for the moment, pursuing them often means exchanging something eternal for something temporary. There is no way to justify that as a winning exchange.
This journey of faith in Christ takes courage and strength. We must fight our flesh, our enemy Satan, and often we must stand against the world that rejects Jesus. This can become exhausting and may cause you to want to leave the fight. After all, why go through all of this when conformity can be the easier path? In these moments, the temporary comfort seems refreshing, but it is really deceiving because it doesn’t last. Don’t fall for the trap. The reason God gives us so many promises in his Word is because he knows this journey is tough. However, each promise is a reminder that it is all worth it. In the first second of eternity, when you stand in God’s glory, despite all you have suffered and endured, you will discover you made the best decision all along.
Conclusion: Embracing the Hope of Glory
Whatever you're going through right now, Romans 8:18 reminds you that your pain is not permanent. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it challenges your faith. But this present suffering is leading to something far greater than you can see right now.
The suffering you face today is momentary, but the glory that awaits you is eternal. You must always keep your heart fixed on that truth. There is a day coming when the Lord will wipe every tear from your eyes, and he will exchange the weight of this life for the joy of his presence. However, that day is not today. So, in your suffering, hold on and don’t give up. Remind yourself that your present suffering now can’t compare to what is coming later. That is the eternal hope found in Romans 8:18.
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