In review of 2 Corinthians 4:17 it says, “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.”
Bottom Line:
The troubles you are facing now are small and won’t last forever. They will bring you a rich blessing that will make the troubles seem like nothing.
What this means to me:
Any of my present troubles, while they seem big now are really small and won’t last forever. They will however, bring me a tremendous and eternal glory that will make them seem like nothing.
When difficulties come one of my first thoughts is to try to blame somebody else. It’s much easier to point the blame and want some restitution, correction, easement, or release from the effects of it. I often feel this way when some trouble comes and I don’t think it was because of any mistake on my part.
What I’m learning is that no matter where my problem has come from, God still has a purpose for it in my life. Even when I do stupid things, God can use it. Even when other people hurt me intentionally, he can use it. Even when the devil plans bad things, God can bring good out of it.
What I need to remember is that God’s purpose in this is greater than my problems and my pain. God has a plan! I need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit in my life.
Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that … they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (TLB).
God’s purpose for my problems and difficulty is to allow me to learn something. Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for my development.
At times I’m a slow learner. What I find is that if I don’t learn something the first time, God will bring it up again. It will come back, because God is more interested in developing my character than he is in establishing my comfort. He is more interested in seeing me become more like Christ than he is in making things easy for me.
Through my current difficulties today God is telling me to, “Don't give up. Grow up.” Fulfill the purpose of this difficulty, become more and more like the person he created me to be and remember, “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble” (2 Corinthians 4:17 GNT).
As I reflect on present troubles, which is my arthritic pain, I do believe God is telling me to not give up. I really want to become more active (walking, getting out and about), however the pain is making it difficult. I know that as I get back into regular medication routine things will get better. Meanwhile, being in this condition does keep me in closer prayer with God as I ask for healing and relief.
What I need to remember is that God’s purpose in this is much greater than my pain. God does have a plan! I need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit in my life.