We know where this is headed, even if we don’t see how today.
Romans 8:18 says:
“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
God knows what He’s doing. Always has.
That doesn’t mean it’s clear to us. Usually the opposite.
Children get fatal diseases for no reason we can see.
Men get gunned down for debating (and winning) arguments on issues that not long ago weren’t even up for debate.
And after it happens, people publicly celebrate their death online — even hope for more.
Nobody can give a good reason. The only silver lining is it shows you who to avoid without having to confront them.
But here’s what I rest on: God is working. He’ll finish His plan even if we don’t understand it. And the end will be glorious.
A less extreme example:
When I was in middle school athletics, we had to run laps around the campus. Most guys took a shortcut — jumped the fence as soon as they were out of sight. I was too scared to.
One day, our meanest coach hid between two cars and caught them.
As I finished, I saw all the “fast” guys standing to the side. The coach asked if I jumped the fence. I said no.
“Take another one,” he barked.
I protested. “But I didn’t jump the fence!”
“Take another one!” Louder this time.
So I ran again, muttering under my breath, frustrated and discouraged.
Until I realized those guys who cheated weren’t resting. They were doing bear crawls in the parking lot until they threw up.
Turns out the coach knew exactly what he was doing. I just didn’t see the plan. I got worked up and worried for nothing.
Same with life. We don’t see the whole picture today. But we do know how it ends. And it’s so good we can’t even comprehend it.
Kind of like trying to explain the internet to an ant.
God’s already worked it out. The game is won. The only question is whose side you’re on.
No matter what evil happens, victory isn’t “if” — it’s “when.”
Does that make today’s pain easy? No.
But it does make it bearable knowing it’s temporary.
Whatever you’re carrying, it won’t last forever. What’s waiting on the other side makes today’s trouble look small.
Will there be suffering? Yes.
Will it be bad? Possibly. Probably.
Should you worry? No.
Everything will be set right. And when we see, then we will understand.
Not to be a downer after all that, but consider this.
Many (if not most) people who actually read the Bible now do so electronically. Nothing wrong with that.
But what if that were taken away? Access to those things could be cut off at the source. At any time.
Sounds far-fetched, I know. But there are lots of places in the world where you can be punished for reading the Bible today. It’s not impossible.
Charlie Kirk was killed for saying things that not long ago wouldn’t even be objectionable. He would have been seen as a kook for thinking it even needed to be said.
It changes fast.
Just saying, if you don’t already have one, it might be a good idea to get a hard copy of the Bible. Or more than one so you can share.
I’m not going to go down the rabbit hole of telling you which translation is best or any of that. Just make sure you have one.
Then make sure you read it.
You can buy one here on Amazon
(Yes, I’ll get a small commission if you use that link, but it doesn’t change your price.)
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