About This Sermon
Connor Bales teaches from Romans 8:16-18 about how Christians can navigate suffering in a way that honors God. Suffering is not a one-time event to endure and move past, but a repeated reality that deserves thoughtful attention. Paul uses the word "consider" to show that believers should think carefully about what God may be doing in and through their pain.
Connor shares from his own family's experience with two daughters diagnosed with Trisomy 16p, a rare genetic condition. He warns against comparing our suffering to others or to an imagined pain-free life, and he points to God's promise that present sufferings cannot compare with the glory to come. God hears, remembers, sees, and knows his people's pain.
Scripture: Romans 8:16-18; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; James 1:2; Exodus 2:23-25; Psalms 34:18-19
Practical Takeaways
A few ideas to carry with you, discuss with your group, or revisit during the week.
- Suffering deserves stewarding, not ignoring or simply surviving.
- Suffering is not singular; it is a repeated reality in a broken world.
- Suffering is not worth comparing to others' pain or to a life without difficulty.
- God hears, remembers, sees, and knows his people's suffering.
- Suffering is for now, but glory is forever.
Discussion Questions (5)
- What does Paul mean when he says to 'consider' our sufferings in Romans 8:18?
- How can we pay attention to what God might be doing in us through hardship without pretending the pain isn't real?
- What makes it tempting to compare our suffering to someone else's, and how does that affect us?
- When has God shown you that he sees and knows your pain, even when others didn't?
- How does the promise of future glory shape the way you face present difficulty?
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