Don't Lose Heart

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not 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." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

To close out the week and its theme on getting back on track, it would be helpful to look at Scripture.

Life happens, and that is what I've really been touching on in large part this week. But when it does happen, it is very easy to lose heart. The chaos of life can be severe, average, or even mild situations. They can come on rapid fire, all at once, etc. Regardless of the way, the what, and the how, the temptation is there to shrink back in fear, lose heart, all of the above.

When we view what is happening in our world at home and abroad, that tendency grows even more. I know it does for me anyway.

Of course, when we think of our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe, the truths found in what Paul says here become even more challenging.

So what exactly is Paul saying here?

If I'm not mistaken, in short and in part, I think that he is saying that though we both age and suffer in this life, as believers we are growing more and more into the image of Christ, and one day will be glorified with Him. While we see the things in this life and in this world, and they have their effect on us, the things we don't see are just as real and more so. Eternal life is a reality.

So, that's one of those truths to rest on, I suppose. Chaos is everywhere, it is visible, it is seen. But that eternal weight of glory is just as real, though it is not seen.

Easy to say of course, but no less true.

So, I don't know, but I guess that getting back on track means that we have to realize that whatever the off-track section of life was, was to help build up that eternal weight of glory, that the unseen things of God's purposes would be carried out.

Food for thought as we, by God's grace, get back on track.