Romans 8:1 CSB – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:37 CSB – In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

You can be hopeful despite personal suffering

Romans 8:18 CSB – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Acts 9:15, 16 CSB – But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must _____________ for My name.”

What do you expect to go in that blank?

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 CSB – Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

Romans 8:18 CSB – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Hope begins with proper perspective

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 CSB – For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Matthew 6:19 CSB – Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy.

You can be hopeful despite cosmic groaning

Romans 8:19 CSB – For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s son to be revealed.

Romans 8:20 CSB – For the creation was subjected to futility…

Romans 8:20 CSB – For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly, but because of him who subjected it.

It was God’s will to subject the world to futility

Romans 8:20, 21 CSB – For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it – in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

Romans 8:22 CSB – For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.

Completely Surrender to Jesus

Romans 8:23 CSB – Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits – we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Ephesians 1:14 NLT – The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.

Eagerly Wait in Patience

Romans 8:24, 25 CSB – Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB – Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Pray a Groan and the Holy Spirit Intercedes

Romans 8:26, 27 CSB – In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Be Confident That God is Working for Good

Romans 8:28 CSB – We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.