Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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. | 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

John 9 tells of Jesus’ encounter with a man who was blind from birth. Jesus mixes his own saliva with some dirt and spreads the muddy mixture on the man’s eyes. He instructs him to go wash in a pool and the man miraculously goes home seeing. Having been trapped in darkness his entire life, Jesus grants him sight while proclaiming, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).

The apostle Paul encourages us to not lose heart when the troubles of this life dim our outlook on life. The weight of our worries about our current situation can feel like a heavy blanket that covers us in darkness. From uncertainty about our economic future to the anxiety caused by the ongoing health impact of the coronavirus, we wonder, “How will we recover from this? What hope does the future hold?”

However, our problem is one of perspective. It’s all about what we focus on. Paul reassures us that the weight of our worries is temporary compared to the eternal hope we have in Jesus. So, we can either sit around with mud on our eyes fixated on our current troubles. Or we can wash the mud off and see the light of Jesus who offer us a bright future.

That is not in any way to dismiss or discount the current sufferings that we or our neighbors are enduring. Rather it is an encouragement to look for the work of God that is being displayed in the midst of our present situation. Remember, God is still in control and sitting on his throne. Even in the middle of difficult times, we can focus on where he is at work, spreading his light in the darkness.

AUTHORING + DESIGN CREDITS

✍️ Credit :: Matt Rhodes
📸 Credit :: Matt Rhodes
🎨 Credit :: Matt Rhodes