I was reading the words of a famous coach recently in his offering some motivation for his runners to push through difficult workouts. His advice was to keep the big picture in mind so as to see the difficulty of the workout as just a speed hump to push through and over on the road to success, What a great concept! It’s great because it’s a reflection of what is taught in Scripture.
Romans 8:18 (ESV) — 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Think about that verse in the light of the speed hump analogy. The suffering you may be going through at this present time is merely a speed bump, no matter how severe or how long you are made to feel uncomfortable compared to what you will enjoy in eternity as a child of God. Wow!
Let’s back up in Romans 8 and notice another important point concerning any suffering we may be experiencing.
Romans 8:14–17 (ESV) — 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to give us assurance that we belong to God. He does that in drawing us to pray and helping us to pray, assuring us we belong before the throne of God as His dear children. Not only that, but as we pray and as we walk in the light of the Spirit then we are constantly given assurance that we belong, and if we belong then we have an inheritance. It gets even better! We are actually fellow heirs with Christ. Then it says that the truth of that is made most evident when we suffer, which makes sense because when we are suffering is when we seek to live close to the Shepherd.
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV) — 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:25 (ESV) — 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
If you are suffering, then you are called to suffer because God has a purpose for it in your life. In order to survive the speed hump of suffering you need help and that is found in drawing nigh to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul, the Lord Jesus Christ.
How does that look?
Psalm 23:1–6 (KJV) — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
In the meantime, consider the “speed hump” of being uncomfortable in suffering in whatever measure.
2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (ESV) — 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 5:1–5 (ESV) — 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
It’s just light and momentary affliction or a “speed hump” of discomfort because what awaits us is something that is far superior than what we could ever comprehend.
1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (ESV) — 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
It behooves us then to consider whatever affliction or suffering we are in at the moment as a mere speed hump of being uncomfortable because as the song says, “it is better farther on.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
