Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.  Romans 8:18

Makena is a social worker in the HIV/AIDS epicenter of South Africa. Her days are filled with death, suffering…. and hope. She’s raising 27 AIDS orphans while living next to the mass graves of those who’ve fallen to the disease. And yet, Makena shares the source of her hope with a quote from C.S. Lewis, saying, “Our longing for ultimate beauty, for perfect justice, for unending love, is a reflection of the greater reality that awaits us beyond the confines of this world. The weight of glory is the deep yearning within us, drawing us toward our true home and reminding us that we are made for something greater.”[1]

We often find ourselves burdened with trials, sorrows, and the weight of our own humanity. The Bible speaks to us about entrusting our suffering to God, saying: “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (Romans 8:18) God promises, that for those who hope and trust in Him, there’s not only help for today, but great glory for our forever spent with Him. We’re talking about the unimaginable beauty, joy, and fulfillment that await us in the presence of God.

If the hardships you’re facing today don’t make sense, imagine yourself as a block of marble in the hands of a sculptor. The hammer strikes, the chips fly and the raw stone gradually transforms into a masterpiece, a vessel that can hold God’s glory. Just as the sculptor can envision the beauty within the stone, God sees the spectacular outcome of our lives, even when we can’t fully comprehend it.

[1]Lewis, C.S., (Clive Staples). “Introduction.” The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, 2001, p.1.