God Cares For You Through Hard Times

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:17

We like to focus on the positive. When two people get married, their wedding vows focus on the positive: “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” Some negatives are mentioned, but the focus is on the positive aspects of life together. When we actually think about it, most of us realize deep down that in this world we have to take the bad with the good. But we sure don’t like to think about hard times, much less live through them.

What’s true in marriage is also true in following Christ. Commitment to God involves being faithful for better, for worse. Being a child of God sometimes involves sharing in the suffering of Christ (see John 15:20; Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:12).

There are no simple or reassuring explanations for this harsh reality, only the guarantee that trials don’t last forever (see Psalm 30:5), and that on the other side of suffering is glory (see 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Staying focused on these truths during tough times will pay long-term dividends.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME
• You will one day share my glory.

• You must now share my suffering.

MY PRAYER TO GOD
O Lord, suffering is confusing and painful—something I try desperately to avoid. When hard times come, help me to respond in a godly fashion.