I Reckon

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Adversity is the grindstone of life. It can do one of two things: Polish you up or grind you down. The impact and ultimate result of what you do with the difficulties that come your way can make a difference.

It would be wonderful if when you got saved all of your problems ended. Your mortgage would be paid, you'd have a new car every year, nobody would get sick in your household, and you could live happily ever after. But Jesus never promised a pie in the sky lifestyle. He promoted one of sacrifice and blessing. He never promised we would be pain free or never encounter stress. He did promise however that He would "never leave or forsake us."

Paul said it best in his writing to the Roman church. He must have been a Southern Jew because he wrote, "I reckon" to start off this discourse. He reasoned that the sufferings of this life cannot compare with the glory which shall be revealed in us. It's hard to understand how trials and temptations help us achieve glory, but they do. If we stay true to Jesus something good is bound to happen in spite of all the mess we go through.

So choose to be polished by adversity rather than be ground down. Let the word of the Psalmist bring you comfort in Psalm 23. You can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and not fear evil because He is with you. He is in me, His angels watch over me, the Holy Spirit comforts me, and the Father hears my pleas. I reckon going through what I have to go through will be worth it all someday.