Happy Tension: Suffering + Glory
There is a short phrase I like to use when describing the mysterious paradox between two truths, which from God’s perspective probably compliment one another, but from our limited vantage point seem unnecessary or at least difficult to grasp. I call these "happy tensions ." Since we are made in God’s image, and not vice versa, our place is not to judge. Rather, we shall joyfully receive all the goodness and love and justice Almighty God our Creator — the one and only God — happily chooses to send our way. And if we don’t feel like rejoicing, then part of our tension is to cultivate joy in the midst of hardship, for this light and momentary affliction will pass, and for believers in Jesus Christ it give way to everlasting joy in God.
The first happy tension I want to consider is the connection between suffering and glory . Or key text on the matter is Romans 8:18 :
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
The two parts of our inheritance (see v. 17), as co-heirs with Christ and children of God, is to suffering like the Son of God did, and then enter into glory like Him. We can take all the suffering experiences in humanity in this brief life and weigh it against the coming glory, which has a weight far greater. They are incomparable, yet inseparable. That is the happy tension. Without the first we shall not inherit the second.
Why do we suffer? It is partly related to the reason why we await glory. Because we are the sons of God (see vv. 14-17). Constable writes on this theme:
“The phrase ‘if indeed’ seeks to render the first class condition in the Greek that in this case we could translate ’since.’ Just as surely as we share His sufferings (Gr. sumpaschomen , any sufferings, not just those connected with our bearing witness for Christ) now we will share His glory in the future. This is a reference to the glorification that every believer will experience at the end of his or her life (vv. 18-25). Our glory then will be in proportion to our suffering for His sake as His disciples now (cf. 1 Peter 4:12-19 )."
In fact, all of creation eagerly anticipates the final redemption, looking to when the sons of God shall be fully redeemed (vv. 19-23). In anticipation all creation groans, the church groans (vv. 24-25) and the Spirit Himself groans (vv. 26-27). In light of this reality of suffering and the promise hope of glory with Christ, "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" ( Romans 8:28 ). That is not a blanket promise to all people that suffering will be alleviated, or even that the results will be good.
In fact, the "good" spoken of here is illuminated in verse 29, "those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." The good is defined as the process and goal of being remade into the image of Christ, our inward motives and desires refined by the hardships and trials we encounter. Our character is formed, our values refined and our mind is renewed. This purifying we call sanctification , which may be an irrelevant word but is a crucial reality. Without this movement towards holiness we cannot become more like Jesus, and that cannot be achieved without suffering. Suffering and glory, incomparable yet inseparable.
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