Life in the Spirit: Adopted Into Christ's Familyنموونە

I SHARE IN HIS SUFFERING

Suffering has been part of humanity’s affliction dating all the way back to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 when they ate the forbidden fruit and were sent away from the Garden of Eden. We cannot get away from the brokenness of this world. This pain and suffering and longing for a place where none of that exists is the reality of our exile. In John 16:33, Jesus himself acknowledges that our life here on earth will bring suffering - it’s a fact. But in that same passage, Jesus reminds us that He has overcome the world.

Additionally, in the passage in Romans from today’s reading, Paul tells the church that the pain and suffering we face here on earth do not compare to the glorious riches we will experience in heaven. None of this minimizes the fact that, for a lot of us, parts of life on earth feel unbearable. The pain of loss, death, illness, and so much more often feels like more than we can handle. The only way any of this IS bearable is because what we trust and believe is yet to come.

Christian author, Joni Eareckson Tada, became a quadriplegic in 1967 at 17 after a diving accident. In an instant, everything about the life she knew changed. In the immediate years following her accident, she went through bouts of deep depression and bitterness. As time went on, Tada adjusted to her new normal and began to find new ways to enjoy life. Since her accident and subsequent health struggles, Tada has spent her life advocating for others with disabilities and sharing her story with others.

He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace. The greatest good suffering can do for me is to increase my capacity for God. Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding His character, in trusting His promises, and in leaning on Him and resting in Him as Sovereign who knows what He is doing and does all things well.
Joni Eareckson Tada

While our adoption means we share in Christ’s suffering, it also means we share in His glory. Tomorrow, we’ll discover what the Hope of Glory means for us. Our earthly suffering is not the end of our story. The best is yet to come.

Ask Yourself and Reflect:

-How does the knowledge of my adoption into God’s family change my perspective on my suffering here on earth?

-What does Paul say about suffering and its purpose?

-How do Paul’s words change or reframe how I view my own suffering?

Pause to Pray:

Read Psalm 71 and meditate on it as your prayer today.

Take a Next Step:

It’s easy to get caught up in what feels hard about life because, let’s be honest, life IS hard. But there’s also so much good all around us. Take a few minutes in a quiet space today to reflect with gratitude on all the goodness around you. Make a list in your Bible, on your phone’s note app, or somewhere you can refer back to of all of the good things that come to mind.