Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – troubles will not be avoided in this life, but the perspective through which we see them will shape my life in them.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
[17] For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. The things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Observation
They say “perspective is everything.” It’s not what I see but how I see, the comparative perspective through which I see my current reality can greatly alter my present. The size of ‘troubles’ are measured by personal effect and comparative measure. Sometimes I hear people say about their troubles that “compared to what goes on in other parts of the world it’s nothing.” But the reality is that within their reality it is something. Comparing to others is not helpful, for I need to be real to me.
So what is a good perspective when facing challenges? Well, Paul says firstly they are small troubles from the perspective of what they are producing. Every ‘trouble’ of my life will produce something in my life. For many troubles produce, worry, stress, anxiety, they make my life small and I seek a way out through understanding or blaming. But Paul says that troubles can produce glory, a glory that “vastly outweighs them.” You see in all troubles and suffering God has a redemptive plan to be revealed and experienced. God is always postured to release His goodness and often suffering as the door that has me die to things in me that releases more of the true me, the godlike me. There is always a glory to be discovered in troubles, if we have the right perspective.
Secondly, Paul says that his troubles are short. From the perspective of eternity, he sees that his troubles will be short-lived. “For the things, we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” It’s a challenge I find, to live in the now with a perspective of the then. How do I allow the promise of the most amazing forever to shape the troubles of the short life of now? From the perspective of eternity, there is nothing in the now that has any lasting shaping influence. The promise is secure in Jesus. Paul allows the perspective of his promised tomorrow shape his life of today?
Application
Get a new perspective. When faced with troubles get a perspective of the glory God is looking to release and the promised glory of eternity. From these perspectives, the troubles of life are reshaped by the story and presence of God.
It’s not compared to others, it’s the perspective of the presence of God.
Response
Thank you that you don’t rescue me from the ways of troubles, but rather you redeem my troubles by releasing your glory, and my fullness of life through troubles. The cross shows the redemptive power of trouble. Thank you that you give me eternity as the promise to shape all troubles. In you, life always looks from a new perspective, thank you that you give me that lens for life. I am blessed.
Meditation
Meditation truth – Troubles produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
Consider:
What is the shaping perspective for the troubles you are facing?
Does the promise of eternity shape your life now?
JOURNEY DEEPER
