“…we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly WE ARE BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
There are lessons we learn in the storms of life that we don’t learn anywhere else. Often when Paul and Barnabas visited the believers, the Bible tells us they: “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” (Acts 14:22)
This may not be the verse you would usually see hanging on someone’s wall, is it? It is almost as bad as: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Timothy 3:12)
Some of these promises we would probably rather forget, but they are just as true as Romans 8:28, which promises that “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”, and Jeremiah 29:11, where the Lord says, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
We are not exempt from experiencing the storms of life. God is doing a work. And that is what we must understand: GOD IS AT WORK. He will not waste our pain. He will produce something in our lives that we need. He is looking for a desired result. “…our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory THAT FAR OUTWEIGHS THEM ALL.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
God’s primary purpose for us, is to make us more like Jesus.
He is getting us ready for Heaven!
Let’s make sure we are ready…Bill Stockham