Unconcerned with Momentary Troubles

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

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 4:13-18

Scripture Notes

A pastor shared his experience visiting Canada with his family. They went to the Skywalk, a glass-floored observation platform located 918 feet above the Sunwapta Valley. He explained that to walk out onto the platform, one needs three things: knowledge, assent, and trust—the posted sign provided all the knowledge he required. The platform had been tested and was reported to withstand the weight of 15 elephants. Knowing this information, he felt comfortable ascending toward the platform. However, stepping out onto the platform requires trust or faith. Trust that the information on the sign is accurate. Trust that the platform is regularly maintained. Trust that it will support him, his family, and everyone else who stands on or approaches the platform.

Our Christian life is much like this. We need to have knowledge of God to cultivate a personal relationship with Him and then step out in faith to enter into that relationship. Without faith, the natural response to troubles is to shrink from destruction. Calvin said, “The corruption of the outward man ought not to grieve us because the renewal of the inward man springs from it.” Instead of focusing our minds and eyes on troubles, we need to redirect our thoughts to the eternity of the kingdom. When we concentrate on present circumstances, we can be deceived since all we have is temporary. We can’t rely on these things, but we can have confidence in the future.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The evidence of God all around us is visible in the powerful waves of the sea crashing against the shore, the majestic mountains, the intricate workings of our own bodies, and the beauty of childbirth. In all these things, we can see some of God, but not the fullness of God.

Faith is relying and resting on things that are not of this earth and are not temporary, the fullness of God. Faith is resting in the heavenly place. The eye of faith sees further than all man’s natural senses. Faith can be called ‘the seeing of things which are invisible.’ It is easier for us to trust in tangible things right in front of us, but it takes great faith to trust in things that we cannot see.

We can find faith throughout the pages of scripture from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The faith of Abraham to leave his home and go to a new land. How about Job? Job lost everything. He never cursed God but trusted that God would bless him if he stayed faithful. Paul became a faithful servant of the gospel through many missionary journeys.

Today, faith can be applied in our everyday lives through community, prayer, action, joining a local church, cultivating relationships, and volunteering. Where can you apply your faith?