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SUFFERING
"GOD is our refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble."
"In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider -- God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him."
"If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."
"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance."
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, according to the power of God."
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps."
"But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
"For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."
"But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name."
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock."
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of
suffering, take the prophets who spoke in
the name of the Lord. As you
know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of
Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally
brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
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Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal
to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting
eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really
are. 20 Against its will, all creation was
subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21
the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children
in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22
For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of
childbirth right up to the present time. 23
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within
us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be
released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the
day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,[a]
including the new bodies he has promised us. 24
We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have
something, we don’t need to hope[b]
for it. 25 But if we look forward to
something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
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And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t
know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us
with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts
knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us
believers[c]
in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we
know that God causes everything to work together[d]
for the good of those who love God and are called according to his
purpose for them. 29 For God knew his
people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that
his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And having chosen them, he called them
to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing
with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his
glory.
Romans 8:18-30
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