Over and over in the Bible we are told that there is a correlation between suffering and glory. The reason lies deep in the mystery of evil, for of course there could be no suffering for creation, for beasts or men, or for the Son of Man, had not evil entered the world. But the story does not end with suffering.
In Jesus, however, we do see one… crowned now with glory and honor because he suffered death (Heb. 2:9).
If we concentrate on that marvelous sequence, we will find in the midst of our own pain a great shaft of light. There is glory above us, shining down into our darkness, reminding us that “if we suffer [with him][we need never suffer without Him, for He has entered into all our weakness, into death itself for us], we shall also reign with him’ (2Tim. 2:12, KJV).
His purposes will ripen fast,
William Cowper
Unfolding every hour,
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
**Excerpt originally published in A Lamp Unto My Feet, pg. 184-185