2 Corinthians 4:17 Our momentary, light suffering is producing in us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.
In Kenya we experience difficulties from local authorities, foes, and even “friends.” Yet, compared to what other people in the world suffer and what people throughout history have suffered, these difficulties are small. Still no trial is pleasant. The key to dealing with the pressures of life isn’t to insulate ourselves from them, rather to see them in the hands of our Master: opportunities for people to see Jesus in us and for His glory to be produced in us.
“We are experiencing trouble on every side, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down but not destroyed – always carrying in our bodies the death and sufferings of Jesus, so that the life and power of Jesus may also be seen in us! And our momentary, light suffering is producing in us a weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (2Corinthians 4:8-10&17)
No one escapes the difficulties of life, but suffering that has no purpose is draining and often unbearable. Truly, Paul’s words about God’s purpose in the midst of these pressures give us hope and even reason to rejoice. Still, when I face difficulties, my initial prayers are for deliverance, or judgment against my persecutors. Yes, God may deliver us, but Paul was pointing us to the deeper ministry of our lives as followers of Jesus in these trials: that these short term pressures can reveal the death, life, and power of Jesus through our lives and produce a greater weight of glory in us as well. While this may not reduce the pain of trials, it gives them meaning beyond all comparison!