In review of 2 Corinthians 4:17 it says, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Bottom Line:
The afflictions we face today are only for a short time. Yet they will produce a glory that will vastly outweigh them. A glory that will last forever!.
What this means to me:
Any of my present troubles are small and they won’t last very long. Yet they produce for me a glory that vastly outweighs them. A Glory that will last forever!
As I face great trouble, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on my ulitmate goal. Like an athlete, I must focus on the reward for my faith and the joy that lasts forever. No what happens to me, I have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will and and all sorrow will flee away.
It's easy for me to lose heart and to want to quit. We all face problems that cause us to think about giving up. So rather than quitting, I should concentrate on experiencing the inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit. I shouldn't let fatigue, pain or criticism force me off the joy. I should renew my commitment to serving Christ, and not forsake my eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. My very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen me moment by moment.
I should not let my troubles diminish my faith or disillusion me. There is a purpose in my suffering. The problems and limitations have several benefits:
1) they remind me of Christ's suffering for me
2) they keep me from pride
3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life
4) they give us opportunities to prove our faith to others
5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power
I can learn to see my troubles as opportunities!
The ultimate hope when experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is, there is life after death. Knowing that I will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffer can help me live above the pain that I face in this life.
In retrospect, God has given me a dream, a vision for my future. Often it seems my dreams see like distant illusions that will never come to fruition. I can be encouraged in knowing that He can restore me to what the enemy has taken. In one moment, He can return to me a lifetime's worth of heartache and defeat.
The darkest hour is always just before the dawn, and your change will come when it seems most impossible. So I should get ready! I’m about to experience a complete breakthrough that will be as the latter rain, making my future years better than the former.
Today’s verse helps me realize that while I’m experiencing some difficulties in a current project at work (suppliers who may not be coming through in line with the timing needed on the project), it won’t last forever. My response should be to look to God to handle the areas I don’t have control of and to give the ability see that which I can take action on.
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