OUR WEAKNESS, GOD’S STRENGTH
Romans 8:18-25
Proper 11

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning’s meditation is recorded in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verses 18 through 25, particularly these words: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. I do not have to explain the meaning of the topic of our Epistle lesson for today. Paul was talking about suffering — and suffering is something that each and every one of us knows something about. Every one of us has suffered from some kind of hurt or pain. It might be physical, or mental, or emotional. As I look over this congregation I see people that I have visited in the Hospital following major surgery. I know your suffering. And I see some of you who’s loved ones I have buried in the last year or so. I know your suffering. And I see some of you that I have tried to help through some of those problems of life that have faced you; at work, at school, and at home. I know your suffering. Indeed, individually and as a congregation, we know what suffering is!

Paul, in our text, does NOT try to play down suffering. Paul does not promise a bed of roses for Christians. Paul does not promise Christians that they won’t suffer if they get their head right. Instead, he comes right out and tells us point blank that there is suffering in the world, that there will continue to be suffering in the world, and that even Christians will suffer in this life.

Paul, in our text, talks about our “present sufferings”, he talks about “the creation that was subjected to frustration”, he mentions that the “whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of Childbirth right up to the present time”. And he even says that those who are Christians, including us, “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” That is, as we wait for God to deliver us from this sinful world of pain and suffering into the eternal glory of heaven, where God himself will wipe away every tear. It is sad, but true. We will not escape from suffering until we leave this life and enter into eternal life with God in heaven.

Paul himself also suffered. Paul had a “Thorn in the flesh” which tormented him greatly during his life. Three times he asked God for relief. Three times God said NO! But instead said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.” Paul knew suffering, possibly even more than you and I know suffering. But in this letter to the Romans, Paul offers to them, and us, comfort even in the time of suffering.

We have comfort through our Christian faith mainly for three reasons. First of all we know that suffering is only temporary. We also know there is a purpose for suffering. And lastly we know the end of suffering.

Paul said in our text, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” That was Paul’s way of saying that suffering is only temporary. Suffering, with all its pains and all its grief, will pass away.

Time marches on and with it goes the pains we suffer from day to day. Think back 2 or 3 months ago to that really big problem you faced at work, at home, or at school. That problem that you thought was going to kill you. The problem you thought would ruin your life forever! You must have survived; after all, you are here today. So many of our problems that we are so afraid of are just in our mind and never actually happen. A friend once said, “FEAR is nothing more than False Events Appearing Real.”

Those who have had surgery need to be reminded that the cuts and pains of the surgery will heal, and as they do, the pain that brought on the surgery in the first place should pass away with the pain of surgery. This suffering is temporary. And even though we are still around 10 inches behind normal rainfall for the year, the rains will come to water the dry fields, pastures, and lawns. Suffering is only temporary. It hurts us and it frightens us for a while, but then it gives way to the blessings of God in our lives.

But what about the diseases where there is no sure cure these days — like multiple sclerosis, or some forms of cancer, or the harsh kinds of arthritis — things that stay with a person for the rest of their lives. What about those times when the doctors tell us there is nothing that they can do – that we just have to learn to live it?? Even these we must admit are temporary. For we as Christians know that our short life here on earth is only a flicker of the candle, compared with the eternity which God offers to us in heaven. Paul’s thorn in the flesh stayed with him all his life, but even with that pain he said that when he considered the glory which was yet to come, the suffering in this world would amount to nothing, because it soon would pass, and give way to the glory that is coming.

But not only is suffering a temporary thing, it can also serve a good purpose in our lives. Paul says in our text, “The whole creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay, and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Within our lives, God does not WILL that you and I suffer, after all that suffering can be a direct result of our sin, or someone else’s sin, against God. If you have a hangover in the morning, it’s not God’s fault – you were the one who drank too much the night before. BUT, God at least permits our suffering, in order to bring about good within our lives. The story of Job is a good example. It was not God who was punishing or tempting Job, rather it was the Devil who did the dirty work. But God allowed the Devil to tempt Job, and to cause pain and suffering in Job’s life. We learned in our catechism and the Lord’s Prayer that “God indeed tempts no one”. But instead, God uses the temptations which come into our lives to point us again to the source of our strength — not ourselves — BUT GOD. To remind us that we are not self-sufficient or self-made; — but that we belong to Him.

God promises, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” And he never will. God promises, “I will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but will give you a means of escape, so that you will be able to bear it.” And he will keep that promise!

It is one of the most difficult things for us to accept, and yet we need to take comfort in the fact that even suffering and pain can be a gift of God to us, in order to strengthen our faith. Man takes Iron Ore out of the ground and puts it through fire to produce steel. God can take our faith, and put it through the refining fire, to produce a faith much, much stronger than before. To look upon suffering as a gift from God is hard to do — but it certainly can be just that – a gift from God.

But the greatest comfort in time of suffering is not in knowing that suffering is temporary, NOR is it in knowing that suffering can be good for us. The greatest comfort in time of suffering is to know that suffering is going to come to a complete halt for Christians.

Suffering, pain, temptation, death, illnesses, disease, and anything else that causes discomfort, pain and sorrow in this life is the direct result of sin. It is sin in the world which causes all our suffering and all our pain. The end of sin is coming. It is coming with our Lord when he comes to call unto himself those, living and dead, who are his own. Our text tells us, “We wait eagerly for our adoption as Sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.

We wait for God to free us from this world, to free us from sin, to free us from suffering, and pain and everything that is connected with sin; and to take us to himself in heaven.

God has already won for us the victory over sin and its eternal consequences. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have the promise of life eternal. Suffering will definitely come to a final halt.

Yes, suffering is only temporary, and suffering can strengthen us, and suffering will come to a final end for Christians as eternity begins, because Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin and suffering.

God loves us. God gave his Son into death for us. God will free us from suffering and give us a crown life. Take comfort in these promises of God and put your trust in Him. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.