2 Corinthians 4:13-18: a reflection

13But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also through Jesus, and will present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory, 18while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Paul, who suffered greatly for the gospel, gives a startling perspective on affliction. Though our outer self is wasting away, he says, our inner self is being renewed day by day. And then: 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 seen are transient, but the things unseen are eternal. Paul calls his sufferings, which were severe, light and momentary, weighed against the eternal glory they were preparing.

Notice Paul's perspective: our affliction, seen in light of eternity, is light and momentary, and it is working toward an eternal weight of glory. This is not to minimize suffering, which is real; but to weigh it against eternity. Compared to the eternal, unimaginable glory ahead, even severe and long affliction is, Paul says, light and momentary, and it is not wasted; it is preparing an eternal weight of glory. The key is where we look: not at the seen and transient, but at the unseen and eternal.

That perspective can transform how we bear affliction. Our troubles feel heavy and long, and if we look only at them, at the seen and present, they can overwhelm us. But Paul calls us to look further, to the unseen and eternal, to the glory ahead against which even severe affliction is light and momentary, and to trust that our afflictions are not wasted but preparing an eternal glory. When you are weighed down by affliction, do not look only at the trouble before you. Look to the unseen and eternal, weigh your affliction against the eternal glory ahead, and trust that your light and momentary affliction is preparing for you an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Fix your eyes on the unseen and eternal, and take heart.

Lord, Paul, who suffered greatly, called his afflictions light and momentary, weighed against an eternal weight of glory they were preparing, as he looked not to the seen and transient but to the unseen and eternal. Give me that perspective. My troubles feel heavy and long, and if I look only at them, at the seen and present, they can overwhelm me. Help me look further, to the unseen and eternal, to the glory ahead against which even severe affliction is light and momentary. Help me trust that my afflictions are not wasted, but preparing an eternal glory. When I am weighed down, keep me from looking only at the trouble before me; help me look to the unseen and eternal, and trust that my light and momentary affliction is working an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Fix my eyes on what is eternal, and take heart.