Look At It This Way

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church discussing in this chapter, their present experiences vis-a-vis their future experiences that God promised. Paul writes to the church about the suffering that they go through while serving God. Paul writes about how frail human nature is yet God is using it.

Paul tells the church that we are hard-pressed on every side, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. Life is difficult on every side. Low income, health problems, relationship challenges, and struggles in school. On every side, nothing is easy for us who serve God. It’s hard! We are ever perplexed, persecuted, and struck down but we survive it all by God’s grace. In fact, we carry death around with us, 2 Corinthians 4:10-11.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul tells the church that because of what is happening to us, we should actually lose heart for it’s getting worse and not better, but we do not lose heart. Where we should have lost heart and given up, we do not! We have not given up because as things get worse around us, God renews us inwardly all the time. Outwardly we are on the verge of collapse, inwardly we are stronger than ever. Our strength and stability are in what God is doing to us inwardly. What we endure outwardly is a result of what happens inwardly. If God wasn’t working on us inwardly, we would have long given up and collapsed under the pressures of life.

We survive without money because of what God is doing in us. We go around very happy yet with ill health because of the power of God operating in us. We live in a hostile environment with people who hate us and wish the worst would happen to us, but we thrive because of faith in God. Our inward where God operates is the secret of our victory where we should have failed.

Satan and his minions both demonic and human can only access our outward. They bombard our outward but our inward is God’s forte and from there we stay safe. From God’s forte in us, we can handle absolutely anything. From that inward security, Job handled the loss of all wealth, loss of all children, loss of his wife’s confidence, and loss of health. From that inward security, Jesus faced persecution and death on the cross. From that inward security, Paul could write a powerful pastoral letter to Timothy yet he knew in a few days he would be beheaded. From that inward security, Paul and Silas after being beaten and being prepared for worse experiences could sing praises to God the whole night.

In our text today, Paul tells the church that with inward security, you look at challenges differently. He tells them that whatever problem we are going through today is light, momentary, and preparing us for bigger things. Our biggest and worst problems are light. Light because God has measured it and is sure we can handle it, 1 Corinthians 10:13. God has promised that He will never give us too heavy a problem. God promises that every challenge He allows the devil to bring is what we can handle. If in any case we fail God and are unable to handle it, God doesn’t get angry and abandon us, no, God graciously creates a way of escape. With this understanding, our worst and biggest problems are light and momentary. Look at it this way!

You cant call it heavy and worst yet you can handle it. God has enabled you to handle it. It is within your ability. It is light and momentary. This is how to look at all challenges you are going through today, light and momentary. Look at it this way!

Momentary is another way to look at it. Momentary means it is for a short moment. It won’t last long. God will see to it that your suffering is cut short. Matthew 24:22, God cuts short the days of suffering so that the saints can survive. God knows beyond which point you can’t make it. God will cut short our pain, troubles, and suffering. Therefore no problem is permanent, they are all momentary. Paul and Silas were in prison for a moment but were rescued by an angel, it was momentary. Peter too was imprisoned, but it was momentary, an angel rescued him. Job suffered immensely but momentarily and then all wealth, family, and health were restored to him in double measure. Our suffering is not only light but momentary. Look at it this way!

God has allowed trouble to come our way, not because He enjoys our suffering but because that suffering is preparing us for something better. Suffering is a waiting room. Suffering is a waiting room to greatness. If you are suffering, then your next experience is the glory that surpasses all that you have experienced. If suffering is the waiting room to greatness, stay there! Look at it this way!

Suffering is a bridge to greatness. Suffering is a ladder to greatness. Suffering is not a destination but part of the journey. Suffer in investment and savings and you will arrive at the greatness of financial security. If you can’t take that path of suffering you will not make it to greatness. Suffer in parenting and enjoy old age as you see your children thrive. Suffer in forgiving your partner and praying for them and you will arrive at a happily married future while others experience loneliness after being too quick to part ways. Suffer in finding a good life partner and you will be happy when others are in shock at who they ended up with. Suffering is a pre-qualifier to greatness. Look at suffering as a waiting room to greatness. Look at it this way!

Dear God, help us to look at our challenges this way. May we see them as light, momentary, and a waiting room to greatness. Help us to bear and may that greatness come soon, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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