In 2 Corinthians 4:17 I read, “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.” (GNT)
When I experience difficulties in life, the first thing I’m inclined to do is blame somebody else. However, regardless of where my problem came from—God still has a purpose for it in my life.
Even when I do something foolish, God can use it. Even when other people hurt me intentionally, he can use it. Even when the Devil tries to mess things up, God can bring good out of it.
God’s purpose is greater than my problems and pain. He has a plan! I need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit.
Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that . . . they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (TLB).
What’s the purpose of my problems and difficulty? God wants me to learn something. Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for my development.
I’m a slow learner. If I don’t learn something the first time, God will bring it up again. It will come back because God is more interested in my character than he is in my comfort. He is more interested in seeing me become more like Christ than he is in making things easy.
When facing a major difficulty, does God have a word for me while you’re going through it? God is essentially saying, “Don’t give up; grow up. Let me make you more like me through this painful situation.”
Through this difficulty, let God fulfill his purpose—to transform me more and more into the person he created me to be.
Trust this truth: “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble” (2 Corinthians 4:17 GNT).
My troubles should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I need to realize that there is purpose in my suffering. My problems and limitations have several benefits: (1) they can remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they can keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities!
I need to realize that there is purpose in my troubles and they have several benefits: they remind me of Christ's suffering for me, keep me from pride, cause me to look beyond now, give me opportunities to prove my faith to others, and give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities! This life is preparation for the next. I’m only here for less than a hundred years, but I’ll be in eternity forever. Today’s problems get me ready for an eternity I can’t even imagine right now. Even though today’s problems may seem to be a heavy burden, they’ll seem like nothing later on in heaven. So I need to hang on to that hope, for God is preparing me for eternity with him in heaven!
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