how I imagine romans 8:18-21

 ¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Here's how I imagine it. Think of a fairy tale kingdom. There is a bad royal family. They are mean and nasty and corrupt and horrible. The whole kingdom groans under their rule. No one is happy. People are jailed for no reason. Everyone has to work far too hard. Farms don't produce properly because the rulers skimp on fertilizer and equipment. Taxes are really high. No services are provided. There is no freedom. Nothing is fun.

Then, from within the kingdom, a new royal families arises. A good king. (Perhaps like Prince Caspian.) Suddenly, things change. People start smiling again. Everything brightens. Even the animals are happy now.

We are the kings of the world. Humanity. Because of our corruption, the earth is a mess. But one day a new humanity will be revealed. The Sons of God will rise and be seen in all their glory (they were there all along, mixed in with the others and didn't seem to be anything special) and freedom and happy times will follow.

It will be good.