Therefore 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. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 NIV)
Where is my focus today?
To be honest, right now I am looking more at my body and it’s “wasting away” – the troubles that right now doesn’t seem so light and momentary. The more I focus on it, the more pain I seem to feel. The fear begins to grow. I know this downward spiral. Though the body symptoms are new, my train of thought is not. It is old and familiar ... and detrimental.
What I love about Scripture is that God always seems to give us a choice. He never forces His way on us. We get to choose. He does tell us the outcome of our choices - He also tells us our options.
I see this section of Scripture as a study in contrasts: Outwardly wasting away/ inwardly being renewed, momentary troubles/eternal glory, seen/unseen, temporary/eternal.
As I study these words I realize that the things that can be “seen” in my life are the negatives I am dwelling on right now- my outwardly wasting body, my troubles - but God assures me that these are temporary.
He shows me my options. I can spend time in His word and in prayer and find that inward renewal. I can tell myself that all of this is temporary and will seen insignificant when the eternal glory that awaits presents itself.
We don’t have to “see it to believe it.”
If we did - it wouldn’t be faith at all.
Father God, Thank you that you provide answers to so many of our dilemmas. Help us to follow your word today and make wise choices. Help us to focus not on the temporary, but on the eternal. Amen and amen.
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