Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Thoughts
This is the second time in this chapter alone that Paul has tells us to "not lose heart." Is anyone reading this today feeling that? Did you wake up today feeling discouraged? Has life felt like an uphill battle recently? Internally are you starting to feel like life, or even God, has it out for you?
What I often love about the Bible is that it doesn't sugar coat hardship. In this passage Paul acknowledges it—"though outwardly we are wasting away." He knows from first hand experience how hard life can be. But he also knows we don't have to set our focus on the hardship.
Our hope in Jesus gives us something beyond the hardship of life to look to. Our hope in Jesus points us to something greater, something eternal. Our hardship, without minimizing how hard it is, in contrast with the eternal goodness of God in our lives, pales in comparison.
It's almost like Paul is telling us how he copes. When he's been beaten and throw in prison, and feels tempted to lose heart, what does he do? He reminds himself that his hope is bigger than the hardships of this life. He changes his focus. He trains himself to see past the hardship that is, in fact, temporay, and look instead to the blessing of God that is eternal. He fixes his eyes on Jesus and the hope that he offers us, and in so doing takes his eyes off his hardship and doesn't allow them to make him lose heart.
We can still do this. Today. This is so practical. If you are feeling tempted to lose heart, take time today to look to the hope we find in Jesus. Find comfort in his strength, hope in the fact that he will one day end all hardship, and joy in the fact that he is walking with you right now in the midst of your hardship. Set your eyes on him, not on the hardship. And watch as he grows bigger, and your hardships grow just a little smaller.
Prayer
I pray you would draw near to me God. Please help me to focus more on you than I do on my hardship.