Every
Christian faces discouragement of various kinds at different times. And although
discouragement is an internal process, it is often triggered by external
experiences. Therefore, how we respond to discouragement is important, as our
response impacts both ourselves and others. The apostle Paul speaks of this in 2
Corinthians 4:16-18. So we do not lose heart.
Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by
day. 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.
Paul,
better than most, understood that struggles and opposition are an inescapable
part of Christian life. Therefore, a Christ-centred attitude was needed so he
could rightly process discouraging events, then watch blessings grow out of them.
For
the believer in Jesus Christ, there are corresponding realities playing out in
our lives. On one hand, we may feel the afflictions of physical life increasing
as we serve the Lord, or as we age. We also
must cope with persistent forms of external resistance from the enemy. On the
other hand, we should be equipped to experience inner spiritual refreshment
that strengthens our faith, sharpens our focus, increases our determination,
and energises our capacity for worship.
Now,
I realise not all Christians think of life’s difficulties this way. However, I
suggest Paul is explaining that our perspective of discouragement is what makes
the difference. First, Paul told himself that he would not lose heart. For him, discouragement
was not given permanent authority over his life. We see this as he uses words
like; “not crushed,” “not driven to despair,”
not destroyed,” etc (2Co 4:8-9). In effect, Paul told himself that
difficulties were expected, temporary, and not authoritative. Plus, he used his
energies to strengthen his resolve to persevere for Christ instead of focusing
on his suffering.
Second,
he viewed the circumstances of life within an eternal frame, and through an
eternal lens. This effectively shrunk the severity of his struggles within
his thinking to being light momentary affliction.
This also amplified the differential of earthly suffering with an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
It is healthy to keep this difference of the earthly to the heavenly realms in
our thinking. For now we see only a reflection
as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I
shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
The difference between now and then, between earth and heaven, is unimaginably
huge!
Paul
gave attention to spiritual heavenly realities, knowing they are not
tangible or physically visible at present. He recognised the limited nature of our
earthly struggles when compared to heavenly realities which are both unseen and eternal.
Knowing that his time on earth would come to an end, as it does for us all,
Paul constructed an inner framework of thinking that lived towards his eternal
heavenly destination. Heaven represented far more than the absence of pain or of rewards; it was the
place of God’s ultimate glory. He knew the correlation between suffering now
and his future capacity to praise and glorify God in the next life. Having this
eternal heavenly filter through which he viewed and evaluated his life, Paul
was strengthened to persevere with genuine joy while serving the Lord and the
church.
