Passing Troubles Bring Eternal Glory

“For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 AMP

Do you remember how you felt, as a kid, when you didn’t hand in an assignment or tell your parents you needed supplies for a project? So, you just didn’t do it. Or, when you didn’t study for an important test that you knew would be a chunk of your grade? My heart would feel like it dropped down to my stomach! I remember going to bed and not being able to sleep. Anxiety crept in my mind and, suddenly, I was overwhelmed with thoughts of my world ending. Sound extra? Now it does but, to a young student, it’s not. And, whenever I see my kids deal with their “distressing” situations, I go back to those feelings in my academic past.

I, often, look back at my reactions and question why I felt that way. What was the big deal? Now that I’m in my 30’s and beyond my school days, I see how silly it was to stress over things that would be temporary. I do use it as a base to ensure my kids don’t ever feel that way. But, I can’t help reflecting on those troubles I had as a young child, not just in school but even with friends, bullies, family, personal dilemmas. All things I thought would cause my demise. Even as a young adult, there were hard times I never thought I’d endure. But as I’m growing older, I’ve learned one of the most important lessons a human being can ever learn – everything is temporary!

With every distressing situation I’ve encountered in my life, I’ve learned that it comes and then it goes. Trouble doesn’t last, but glory does. However, we cannot see the glory in trouble, if we do not handle it accordingly. If we focus solely and constantly on the trouble, if we speak continuously about the trouble, if we walk around bearing the trouble, if we believe this trouble will always exist; then it will not produce the eternal glory as promised in God’s word. How could it?

Listen, I get it. Nobody walks around asking God for some difficult times. Let’s be honest, we’re not exactly jumping at the chance to have a “Job experience”. And, I’m definitely not telling you to add hard times to your prayer request! All I’m saying is that, when trouble comes (and if you’ve lived any amount of time on earth, you know it will), how we respond to it is the biggest gamechanger. We have a choice, my friend, we can act like middle school kids, freak out, and wallow in our troubles. Or, we can remind ourselves that we’ve endured adversity before and, if we know anything about it, is that it is temporary and it shall pass. Furthermore, when it does, you can be sure that those passing troubles will bring eternal glory!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of another day and a new week. I don’t take Your assignments in my life lightly or for granted. Thank You for showing me that, in every difficult situation I face, You are Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. Father, I bless You and I praise You for who You are in my life. You are my Deliverer, Great Defender, Undefeated Champion, the only Author and Finisher of my faith, the Writer of my life! Thank You that my afflictions are light and momentary, working for my good and even more for Your glory! Glorify Yourself in my affliction and may others see Your wonder and miracles in my life. I give You all the glory, honor, and praise in every situation in Jesus’ name. Amen.