Sickness and disease are real. Heart attacks, strokes, miscarriages, birth defects, cancer, broken bones: what have you experienced? How has this impacted you and your family? And we ask, “Why does it have to be this way? Is it just the way things are? Is it bad luck or bad karma? Maybe God isn’t in control of this, or maybe He’s mean and out to get me. Did I do something wrong to deserve this?” How do you deal with sickness?
Paul explains suffering to us in Romans 8:18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We acknowledge that sufferings of this present time are real. And we admit the suffering is painful and hard at times, even unbearable. But there is good news: the suffering isn’t as bad as the glory that is coming. The glory to be revealed to us is infinitely greater than the suffering and sickness you experience today. That is good news. That is hope to hold on to.
He then gives three reasons for why we can look forward to a better glory. First in v. 19, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” This is the better glory that’s coming, what we can look forward to. The creation will be renewed, and that includes us, the sons of God, born again into His kingdom through Christ. As He got a new body, so do we. We get new bodies that never fail, never get sick, never grow old or die. Then in vv. 20-21, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” The creation God originally made was good and perfect, with no sickness or disease. But sin and death entered the world, and God subjected the world to futility; sin has consequences. But the good news remains: the world will be set free and glory will reign. Finally in vv. 22-23, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” There’s the reality of suffering again: creation groans and we groan. Even though we know something better is coming, that doesn’t take away the difficulties. But we can live through them, knowing we have the Spirit today and redemption of our bodies to come.
We know God is in control of all things, even our sickness. We know God is not mean or evil and does not make us suffer out of spite. We can rest in God in the sickness and see His glory. God has a good purpose, plan, design, and will for your sickness and disease. Our hope is in Romans 8:18-22. Our hope is in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” Our hope is in God.