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Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Think

Every child longs to know two things: Am I loved? And do I have a future? Paul answers both in this passage with breathtaking clarity. Yes, you are loved. And yes, your future is more secure and more glorious than you could imagine.

Paul is continuing the theme of adoption that we explored yesterday, but now he takes it even further. If we are children of God, we are also heirs. That word carries weight. An heir isn’t just someone who’s included in the family. An heir is someone who has something coming. A promised future. A secured inheritance.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says we’re not just heirs of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. That means that whatever belongs to Jesus is being shared with us. His righteousness, his peace, his relationship with the Father, and even his future glory. That’s not exaggeration. That’s Scripture.

But notice the order. Paul says we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Suffering, then glory. That’s the pattern. That’s the path. Not suffering instead of glory. Not glory with no suffering. But a movement through pain toward joy, through difficulty toward something eternal.

This is essential to understand. Because without it, we’ll assume that hardship means we’re doing something wrong. Or worse, that God has forgotten us. But Paul says that suffering isn’t a detour. It’s part of the journey. And it doesn’t disqualify us from inheritance. It confirms it.

Jesus suffered. Not because he was weak. Not because he lacked faith. But because love often leads us into the hard places. And if we follow him, we can expect the same. Not because God is cruel, but because he is forming something in us that will outlast this life.

The Spirit plays a vital role in all of this. Paul says the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. That word “testifies” is legal language. It’s what a witness does in court. The Spirit bears witness. He confirms what is true, especially when we doubt.

Because suffering has a way of making you question your identity. Pain makes you wonder if you’re still loved. Loss makes you feel like you’ve been forgotten. But in those moments, the Spirit speaks. Sometimes through Scripture. Sometimes through silence. Sometimes through worship or community or prayer. But always with the same message: You are his. You are not alone. This will not end in defeat.

And the inheritance Paul is talking about is not just about heaven. It includes heaven, yes. But it also includes every spiritual blessing in Christ. It includes the presence of God now, the power to overcome sin, the peace that passes understanding, the joy that anchors you even in the storm.

To be an heir of God is to be connected to something that can never be taken from you. The world can strip you of status, health, relationships, and plans. But it cannot touch what God has stored up for you. You may suffer for a season, but you are not abandoned. You may feel the weight of this world, but glory is coming.

Think about what it means to be a co-heir with Christ. He endured the cross. He faced rejection, betrayal, and agony. But none of that was the end of the story. Resurrection followed. Glory followed. Joy came in the morning. And Paul says the same is true for us.

That doesn’t mean we minimize pain. It means we frame it differently. We stop seeing suffering as proof of God’s absence and start seeing it as a place where God meets us most deeply. We don’t chase suffering, but we also don’t run from it in fear. We endure it, knowing that we are not victims, we are heirs.

You may not feel strong. You may be walking through something right now that makes this truth hard to hold. But the Spirit holds it for you. He testifies. He whispers when you forget. He strengthens when you’re weak. He reminds you that you’re not defined by this moment. You are defined by your adoption. Your inheritance. Your future.

Glory is coming. And even now, glimpses of it are breaking through. In moments of peace you can’t explain. In the comfort of God’s presence when you’re grieving. In the strength to love when you’ve been hurt. In the quiet assurance that this life is not all there is.

You are an heir of God. You belong. You are being shaped. You are not forgotten. And one day, the weight of suffering will be swallowed up by the weight of glory.

Apply

Take time today to reflect on what it means to be a co-heir with Christ. Write down what you’re walking through right now that feels heavy. Then beside it, write one truth from this passage that anchors your hope. Let the Spirit remind you who you are, even in the struggle.

Pray

God, thank you for calling me your child and making me an heir. I confess that suffering sometimes makes me question your nearness, but your Spirit reminds me of what is true. Help me hold on to hope. Help me walk through hard things with trust, knowing that glory is coming and you are with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.