Life as a believer is not easy—God never promised us it would be. The Apostle Paul addresses this in 2 Corinthians 4:17.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

But, wait a minute! "Light and momentary troubles?" The Apostle Paul apparently didn't understand what it takes to live in today's world. After all, if he really understood he wouldn't have used those words. It might have been more accurate for him to start his sentence with: "For our unrelenting and debilitating troubles…"

But, let's look at the entire verse … these "light and momentary troubles are achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." The fact is that whether our troubles are "light and momentary" or "unrelenting and debilitating," they are fulfilling a purpose in our lives—achieving for us an eternal glory.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say, "So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (v. 18)

That's the key for us on the good days and on the bad, during the "light and momentary troubles" and what we might consider to be "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles. Our eyes MUST be fixed not on what is seen but what is unseen—not on our troubles but on the "eternal glory" that awaits us.

Admittedly this isn't always easy to do. But we must remember that "what is seen is temporary" and "what is unseen is eternal." Our pains and troubles are temporary, especially when compared to eternity.

Eternity—no beginning and no end. This life is just a fleeting moment compared to eternity. The "unseen" that awaits us will be worth all the "light and momentary" and "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles we have experienced as well as those yet to come.

Fix your eyes, not on your troubles but on the cross of Jesus and His power to redeem us from this life. He purchased our salvation, He paid the ultimate price, so we might receive the "unseen" as our reward. Keep these truths in mind as you walk through your challenging days. Don't allow the circumstances of life cloud your remembrance of the eternal "unseen".

Father, there are days my troubles seem more than I can bear. Help me to remember that what I feel and what I think and what I experience in this life are not what matters. Help me remember there is an eternal glory awaiting all who persevere. Give me the courage to go on with my eyes fixed not on "what is seen, but on what is unseen". In Jesus' name, amen.

© Jan Ross
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