This Momentary Affliction

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”—2 Corinthians 4:17-18

We all encounter problems and pains, trials and tribulations. But how we are to go through them? What should be our focus? How should we look during our trial? Paul described his trial as being

“…afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you”—2 Corinthians 4:8-12.

Paul said that we should consider trials such as these as “light” and “momentary,” but why? Paul didn’t mean to denigrate our trials, nor make light of them, but to show that when compared to eternity, they were light and momentary. James wrote that for every trial we go through we are to “count it all joy” because we know that the testing of our faith “produces steadfastness”—James 1:2-3. And when we are steadfast during trials, we are blessed and will “receive the crown of life”—James 1:12.

Both James and Paul understood that everything we go through is preparing for us “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Paul knew that our trials are a drop in the ocean of eternity. And they are meant to wean us off of this world and prepare us for the next. Heaven is our destination and this world is not our home. Our trials are meant to show us that everything in this world is not as it should be, nor will everything be okay until heaven. There is nothing that can prepare us for how great heaven will be, as Paul wrote, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him"—1 Corinthians 2:9.

What trial are you facing? Do you consider it joy? Do you believe that it is preparing you for eternity? Rest in the knowledge that God may allow you to go through a trial because He wants to prepare you for glory. May God give us the grace to bear up underneath our trials, the strength and courage to face them bravely, and the faith to see them as God does—preparing for us something beyond what we can fathom. Amen.