Our suffering is brief

"And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." Romans 8:17 NLT

One decade after Katie Visco ran coast-to-coast from Boston to San Diego, she decided to run across Australia. And on November 8, her 2,200 mile journey which began on July 13 was over. She and her husband Henley Phillips, who trundled more than 350 pounds of gear and supplies on a bike beside her as she ran between 28 and 38 miles a day, reached the sight they'd been dreaming of for months... the ocean view at Adelaide. Of the journey they embarked on together, Henley said, "I thought I would mainly have to focus on the emotional support of Katie. And then I pretty quickly realized that it was going to be a massive physical effort for me as well." And although there were times when the sheer effort and agony demanded of them rendered the pair hopeless or even reduced to sobbing. still, they carried on because, as Visco reminded herself, "Whatever it is, if it's miserable, if it's joyful, if it's anything, it is brief."

And you know, when it comes to enduring brief suffering to take hold of something worthwhile, the apostle Paul warned the Christians in the early church in Rome that as "heirs of God's glory," they would experience persecution and possibly even death. But if they were to "share his glory," they "must also share his suffering." You see, there was and always will be a price to pay for following Jesus, a price that gets increasingly bigger every day as Christians face growing ridicule, hostility and ill-treatment for staying faithful and completely unwilling to conform to the ways of the world. 

So if you're tempted to give up in your pursuit to walk with Jesus, don't do it my friend. Instead remember that our trials are brief in comparison to the eternity we will spend with the Lord for sticking it out and finishing the race we have been called to run. So press on with all you have knowing it will soon be over. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that any trouble or trials we face on this earth for choosing to follow You will be temporary. Give us the strength to remain faithful to your Word Lord as the world's view of what is right and acceptable continues to go against the Truth. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Almost Home - MercyMe