2 Corinthians 4:18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
With each passing birthday, the face I see in the mirror shows more and more signs of aging. No matter how much I spend on face cream and lather it all over my face, it cannot transform me into the young woman I once was in my twenties.
Even though I try my best to not speed up the wasting away process by neglecting my outward appearance, I have decided that my focus needs to be more on the state of my heart, thought life and soul than how I look outwardly. So when I look at my graying hairs, my thinning eyebrows and my wrinkling hands, I tell myself, I am beautiful in God’s sight because I am allowing myself to be renewed day by day by reading and obeying his Word. I am beautiful in my sight because I love the thoughts I dwell on…thoughts of God’s precious promises to strengthen me, guide me and love me all the way to the gates of heaven where I can see His glorious face.
I want this verse to be my perspective about life’s every day troubles. It says that my every day troubles are there to help me achieve eternal glory. Wow. So my troubles can help me get to heaven? You mean my suffering can be put to good use? Everything in this life is temporary, even my troubles. They are not going to last forever. Whenever I’m going through a really rough time I say to myself, “This too shall pass.” And sure enough before I know it that tough time is already one, two or five years behind me. I have a decision to make every minute of every day. Do I want to fix my eyes on my troubles, or do I want to fix my eyes on what is unseen? Well if I want to be renewed inwardly day by day I choose the latter.]]>
