Q143_091426 Rom. 8:18-23 Let Suffering Remind Us Of The Glory To Come!Q143_091426 Rom. 8:18-23 Let Suffering Remind Us Of The Glory To Come!
How it Happens with Colin Cook
Colin Cook reflects on Romans 8:18–23, linking suffering with future glory and Christ’s mercy for all humanity. The episode connects Christian faith with addiction recovery, suggesting that pain can draw people closer to God rather than drive them away.
14:34•14 Sept 2026
Let Suffering Point Toward Glory and Freedom from Addiction
Episode Overview
- Suffering is described as temporary and not comparable to the glory that is to come.
- Romans 8 and Romans 5 are linked to show Adam bringing death and Christ bringing life to all humanity.
- Creation’s groaning is presented as a deep, often undefined longing for true humanity and redemption in Christ.
- God’s judgement is portrayed as aimed at mercy and redemption rather than eternal doom.
- Personal suffering is framed as a way to grow closer to God and to remember Christ’s shared suffering and promised glory.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol or other addictions? This episode of *How it Happens with Colin Cook* leans hard into that question by connecting everyday suffering with the Christian hope of future glory.
Colin explains Paul’s picture of Adam bringing death and Christ bringing life, stressing that "Christ’s sacrifice is for all humanity from the creation to the end of this world." He shares the idea that God’s judgement is aimed at redemption rather than doom, quoting Romans 11:32: "God has imprisoned everyone under sin that he might have mercy on all." For anyone wrestling with alcohol, drugs, food, sex, or obsessive worry, the episode frames suffering as something that can pull you toward God rather than push you away.
Colin reflects on Romans 8:18–23 and keeps returning to Paul’s bold comparison: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us." Instead of seeing pain as pointless, he suggests it can become a reminder of what’s coming: "Father, thank you that this suffering is a reminder of the glory to come." The talk moves between Scripture passages, linking Romans 8 with Romans 5.
Colin argues that the "goal of suffering" is "to draw us closer to God" and invites you to shift your prayer from only "Oh God, deliver me" to also "Father, I thank you for this suffering for in suffering I come to know you as you have come to know me." The style is warm, Bible-focused, and aimed at people who want their recovery grounded in Christian faith rather than sheer willpower.
If you’re curious how pain, addiction, and hope can fit together within the gospel of Christ, this conversation might give you plenty to ponder and a fresh way to view your own struggles. How might your current hardships look different if you saw them as signs of the glory to come?
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