“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

–Romans 8:18

There is a Latin phrase…a phrase that has become very precious to me…that has traveled through history, carved into mottos, whispered into songs, and even finding its way into stories of distant galaxies: “ad astra per aspera”. “To the stars through difficulties.” It is a simple arrangement of words, yet it carries the weight of human experience and divine promise. For is this not the path we walk as followers of Christ? The road of trial and hardship leading us to the radiant hope of glory in His presence?

When we look up into the night sky, we see the stars shining from a distance so vast our minds cannot fully take it in. Their light is constant, though it took years, even centuries, to reach us. In the same way, God’s promises shine steady, even when we journey through darkness. What we see in faith today is the light of a glory still coming toward us, already set in motion by His hand, though the full brilliance has not yet broken over our lives.

Life, however, does not spare us the “aspera”…the difficulties, the thorns, the heartbreaks, the battles of body and soul. They come uninvited and often without explanation. There are days when sorrow feels like it will eclipse hope, when burdens press down and joy seems like a distant memory. But Scripture calls us to lift our eyes to the horizon, to the stars. It reminds us that what is coming is so radiant, so beautiful, so complete in God’s presence, that it will one day cause our present trials to fade in comparison.

Think of the saints who have walked before us. Abraham left the familiar without knowing where God was leading him, holding only the promise of blessing. Moses led a people through wilderness toward a land he would never set foot in, believing in God’s faithfulness though he saw only glimpses. Paul endured prisons, shipwrecks, rejection, and loss, yet his eyes remained fixed on the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Each of them tasted hardship, yet each of them pressed on toward the stars of God’s promises.

And then there is our Savior. Jesus Himself walked the hardest road, carrying the weight of sin, scorn, and shame, yet never losing sight of the joy set before Him. The cross was His aspera, but resurrection was His astra. Through His suffering, glory was revealed, and through His scars, redemption was secured for us all.

When we face difficulties, it can feel like stumbling in the dark, as though we are lost with no clear path forward. Yet God whispers into our weary hearts, “Look up.” Just as He told Abraham to count the stars, so He reminds us that our journey is not endless night. His promises are written in the heavens, and His light will guide us through the valley. Our suffering is never wasted. Each trial, each tear, is shaping us for glory, preparing us for the eternal joy of being fully with Him.

To the stars through difficulties. To the eternal presence of God through the brokenness of this world. To the glory of Christ through the refining fires of life. The motto becomes more than words. It is a lens through which we see our faith, a song we can sing even when our voices tremble. It does not deny the reality of hardship, but it proclaims with steadfast hope that difficulty is not the end of the story. Glory awaits.

Perhaps right now you are in the midst of the aspera. You are weary. The nights feel long, and the stars seem faint. If that is where you are, let Romans 8:18 rest on your heart. What you carry today is not the measure of your future. God is shaping something more beautiful than you can yet imagine. His glory will not only be revealed to you but also in you. The light of Christ will shine through the very cracks of your brokenness, a foretaste of the eternal radiance that awaits.

So we keep walking. Step by step, prayer by prayer, tear by tear, trusting that every difficulty we endure is leading us closer to the stars of God’s promises. The One who has begun a good work in us will carry it on to completion. The night sky reminds us: there is more beyond what we can see. The light is already on its way.

To the stars through difficulties. To Christ through the cross. To glory through grace. This is our journey. This is our hope. And one day, when the difficulties are over and the stars are no longer distant, we will stand in the fullness of His presence and say it was all worth it.

Prayer:

Father,

You know the weight of our burdens and the depth of our struggles. You see the nights when our hope feels faint and the road ahead seems too hard. Yet You remind us to lift our eyes, to see the promises shining like stars in the heavens. Strengthen us to endure the difficulties we face. Fill us with courage to press on, not in our own strength but in the power of Your Spirit. Remind us that glory awaits, that Christ has gone before us, and that our suffering will never be wasted in Your hands. Keep our hearts fixed on the eternal joy You have promised, until the day we see You face to face.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.