Why Do I Suffer?

Frank and I have decided to return to two sections of Romans for the last two Sundays in 2022. Today we will look at the latter portion of chapter 8. In Romans 8:1-17, Paul proclaims that Jesus has broken the power of sin and death through his death on the cross. We are no longer enslaved to sin but by the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to live for God. We who belong to Jesus are adopted as children into God’s family and we will share in his glory even as we share in his suffering.

These realities are connected in 18-39 through the concept of hope. Look at verse 17. The reality of an eternity with God is promised, but there is also the promise of suffering. The text is debated but the reality is the same. Look carefully. There are those who suggest that Paul writes that we are co-heirs with Christ but first we have to suffer. There is a sequence—suffering and then glory. Others argue that this is a condition. We must suffer if we are to be a part of glory. Sequence or condition matters but the outcome is the same. Suffering before glory. Suffering is, in fact, a part of the human condition. All people suffer to one degree or another. Living in a fallen world means that all will suffer as a result of this world’s brokenness. But the believer understands that suffering in this world is either because of our faith or as a means for our faith to be shaped. The connection between suffering and being in Christ is cemented in Romans 8. It isn’t optional.

But the suffering has a purpose—to cement hope. We suffer with a view to spending eternity with God and our Savior, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Suffering is unpleasant and unwanted, but it, nevertheless, brings us into an awareness of our hope. This hope in light of our suffering is our focus today. It is instrumental to deepening our faith and encouraging us.

Hope in Four Ways

Our present sufferings pale in comparison to our future glory. As Paul writes in verse 25, our hope is an unseen reality that we anticipate and wait upon. But we wait in confidence and assurance not in some wishful state. Suffering in this life is to be expected. But this life’s suffering will not matter at all in the presence of God. But we are not the only ones who long for a life without suffering. Paul writes that the creation is waiting for its suffering to end as well. This is a mystery. We do not think of trees and animals having an awareness of suffering. Nature’s suffering as well as our own is found in the disharmony that exists. There was a time when all of nature was in harmony. No predators or prey, but sin ended that peaceful tranquility. Isaiah speaks of a time when the lion will lie down with the lamb. Paul writes of a time when creation will have its freedom restored.

This very thought may perplex but it also makes sense of hope. All of creation longs for something different. We associate suffering with pain but fail to realize that pain comes in many forms—physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, even death. Ask the person who is fine physically but dealing with deep depression if they suffer and you will find that their suffering cannot be easily put into words. Ask the person who is on the fringes of despair because they are lonely and you will find a depth of suffering that is hard to describe.

No one wants to suffer. Our Jesus didn’t want to suffer. But he chose the path of suffering for us and for all of creation. We find our forgiveness in his suffering and in that forgiveness we open ourselves, even recognize and accept that suffering in this life is not only a consequence of a broken world, but a welcomed opportunity to identify with our Savior. Paul says that these sufferings pale in comparison to the glory that we will be a part of. We can accept the suffering like Jesus did; we can also like Jesus anticipate the resurrection and we can find our identity in the suffering. There is more.

In verses 26-27, our hope is sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit. The word ‘likewise’ in verse 26 connects this section with the previous. Suffering produces doubt. The Spirit produces strength. In our suffering we pray. In our praying we don’t know what to ask. We want the suffering to stop, but we want to reveal Jesus. We pray for strength, but the daily grind is more than we can imagine. The Spirit intercedes. The evidence is clear in your life when you have gone through a time of suffering and on the other side you find that you not only survived but somehow completed the task. The Spirit provides strength in our doubt interceding for us with Father so that we may endure and be sustained and to discover real joy. There is more.

In verses 28-30, hope exists in our suffering; the Spirit provides strength in our suffering so that hope is sustained; ultimately our suffering is for the purpose of molding us into the image of Jesus. God has a plan—through suffering we learn that God is always working for our good. The ultimate good is to look like Jesus. God’s plan is for all of his children to have a family resemblance spiritually. And we want that too. God called us, he saved us, he declared us as not guilty of our sin, and he will glorify us. It is a done deal. 8:1. There is more.

Our hope is diminished because of our suffering. It is renewed. We will groan in our suffering, but the Spirit’s presence gives us strength and confidence of what our future holds. The Spirit is praying with us and for us and God always says ‘yes’ to the Spirit. Thus, God is always working for our good so that we can be like Jesus. In verses 31-39, God is for us and no one or anything can successfully oppose us. People may accuse us (v.33) but God has already declared us not guilty. People may condemn us (v.34) but God will defend us. People may try to keep us from God but God will love us no matter what. We win because Jesus won.

What Does Suffering Accomplish?

Suffering is a reality of life. As people forgiven by the blood of Jesus we recognize that suffering has multiple purposes: suffering allows us to identify with Jesus, suffering allows us to align with Jesus, suffering allows us to see the power of the Spirit, suffering allows us to know that God is molding us into the image of Jesus, and suffering allows us to be confident about our future glory with Father.

We often make the statement, if I knew why I was going through this maybe I could accept it more. We want the why to be explained in terms of connection with others or events. But the why is also found in how we respond to it. Paul writes that the why of suffering for the believer is a fulfillment of our relationship with Jesus. The beauty of suffering is that it reminds us that our sins have been forgiven. Suffering and forgiveness go together. Isn’t this what Jesus accomplished? In his suffering, he brought forgiveness. Thus, our acceptance of his forgiveness means we also accept the suffering that comes with it. We want to be like him. Every person of faith in the Bible whose life we are allowed to see suffered. And every person of faith who suffered recognized that God was working out his plan through them. They did not have to like the suffering but they accepted it because of what they knew would result—the glory of God. You are a person of faith. You will be with God. 8:1. We anticipate and expect to be with God forever. This is hope. Invitation.

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