Put your trouble to work
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Corinthians 4:17
This is something I never considered before. Our troubles are working for us. According to Romans 8:28, We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. We also know that this passage in Romans is very specific in saying who God is working in behalf of . . . those who love Him and are called to His purpose. A lot of stuff happens that God has no part of, but our prayer of faith brings Him on the scene immediately. Glory to God!!
Today’s verse shows us how this was evident in the Apostle Paul’s life. Paul said: Even though our light afflictions are for a short amount of time, they are working for and eternal glory. Wow! Paul says the things he went through were LIGHT AFFLICTIONS? What was Paul talking about? His afflictions, in my opinion, were not so light. He was beaten, stoned, buffeted by a messenger from Satan, (2 Cor. 12:7) imprisoned for years and brought before Caesar. Oh, and don’t forget shipwrecked and snake bitten! I don’t know about all of you, but I have never faced any kind of “light afflictions” like that. However, notice how he says these things were working for him. The NLT version says “troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
I pray we all get this mind set as we go through life. Life is short but the things we go through in this world are working glory (God’s goodness) that is greater than any problem we face if we choose to go through them trusting and following God. I believe this process takes a kingdom mind set, becoming so filled up and preoccupied with the kingdom of God and eternity with Him. That is when we will begin to experience God’s glory in our struggles.
Today I want to encourage you to begin filling up your life with the things of God. Everything you know about God right now is a good place to start. Make a list of the things you know about Him and the things He has done to impact your life. Then ask Him to reveal more of Himself and His goodness to you that will draw you even closer to Him. Everyone is going through something; the key is how you go through the trials that come your way. Are you trusting God and following Him through to victory, or are you worrying and stressing, trying to figure things out in your own wisdom? The choice is yours. When the pressures of life come your way, remember that these issues are working for you because you love God and are called to His purpose and trusting Him to turn them around for good and eternal glory!
Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18
