Adversity

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. (Job 36:15)

In one sense, it is cliche to say that we learn more in the hard times than in the good times. And yet, every cliche has a nugget of truth in it. I think that is one of a main points of the whole book of Job. Its not that Job was unrighteous at the beginning of the book and by the end he had learned how to be righteous. Instead we see a man who had an incomplete view of God.  And God, by His grace, allowed Job to suffer and wrestle with his suffering in order to deliver him and open his ears to hear from God.

Of course the question always arises (at least in my mind) is: why this way? Why can't we learn in the good times? Why can't we hear in times of blessing? The answer is probably more nuanced than this, but the bottom line is that we have spiritual ADD. In good times especially, we lose track of the source of our good times. We forget the purpose of the blessings we've received. We neglect the foundation that our lives and ministries are built upon. Is this universal? Praise God, it is not. But it is very common. We need only to look at Heb 2:1 to see that we all need a constant reminder of the truth of God's Word and to always keep our eyes fixed on Christ.

Maybe the strongest take away is this: whether in good times or in bad we need to keep our focused attention on Christ. As 2 Cor 1:20 reminds us, all of God's promises are Yes in Christ. So if things are going well, praise God and thank Him for all that He has graciously given you in Christ. Remember that you are the branches and that Christ is the vine and that we can do nothing without Him. And if the wheels are falling off,  lean into Christ more. Know that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Remember that His love for those who are in Christ, is unbreakable and He has an end goal that is beyond anything we can ask or imagine.

To God Alone be the Glory

Light & Momentary?

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 Cor 4:17-18)

There is a risk in commenting on any verse in the Bible, especially the well known ones. Many people, much wiser people have probably weighed-in on what the verse means and how it can apply to our lives. What can my words add to the long history that has preceded me?

The answer is, maybe nothing. Or, maybe something, that by the grace of God, may touch a heart or a life.

Each time I read these verses (and really all of 2 Cor 4-5) I walk away with the sense that my focal point is all wrong. Paul refers to our "light momentary affliction". For me at least, the affliction I am experiencing does not seem light or momentary. But when my life is compared to others, my affliction is not as bad nor is as enduring as what they are experiencing. And then take whatever we may be going through (as bad as cancer or killer tornadoes) and compare it to eternal life with God, and suddenly our perspective changes.

For me, I don't wrestle with the truth of these verses. They make sense. We endure small pains for great gains all the time. What I wrestle with is getting my heart and soul to the place Paul was when he could look at the struggles and the trials and the setbacks and the beatings in his life and say they were all light and momentary when compared to the eternal weight of glory that God is preparing for us.

I guess it all comes back to focus. When my focus is on me and my life, my struggles will seem big and probably insurmountable. But when my focus is on Christ and the fact that He has orchestrated my struggles so that I can glorify God and grow in Christ-likeness and that there is a payoff in the end, then maybe whatever I'm going through, whether its cancer or martial strife or job loss or simply a bad day at the office can be viewed as slight and momentary.

And we all need to remember (and be reminded daily) that what is seen (i.e. the cancer and the strife and the  job loss) are transient. Whatever I am facing, whatever you are facing, even if it is as bad as Job's ordeal, it won't last forever. What God has for us, even though it is currently unseen, it is eternal.

To God Alone be the Glory