Where Are You Fixing Your Eyes?

Dear Friends,

"We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.
For the things we see now will soon be gone,
but the things we cannot see will last forever."
1 Corinthians 4:18

Our daughter, Jess, never enjoyed school.  She found the work hard and she struggled. It wasn't until she was diagnosed with dyslexia towards the end of her schooling that we then realised, in part, the reason for why she found it difficult. However, she never gave up. She demonstrated perseverance, determination,  and endurance. I think she probably thought that her school days would never come to an end. However, they did and she was rewarded for her hard work and persistence with good GCSE exam results. These grades have given her a good foundation so that she can go on to study the course at college she is interested in.

I believe the qualities she displayed are ones that God wants to develop in all of his children, and he often does this through trials and difficulties. At least, that's been my experience.

As I write this, I'm reminded of the verses Paul writes in one of his letters to the Corinthian believers:

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)

I don't know about you, but the trials and suffering I experience do not seem light or momentary (as one translation of the Bible puts it). When I'm in the midst of migraines, M.E and depression and struggling with these things, my troubles seem anything but light and momentary.

I don't know what it is that you are struggling with right now. I don't know what trials and troubles you face. The truth is that even if you are not going through a time of difficulty right now, you will have been through one or will at some point go through one. 

There is some encouragement to be gained from the above verses. Yes, we will have troubles, but they are temporary. Our reward will greatly outweigh them, and what we hope for and look forward to will last forever.

Jesus told us that we would face troubles whilst on this earth. However, he also gives us encouragement alongside it:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NLT)

In the midst of our trials we can remember that Jesus has overcome the world and our victory is found in him. He has also given us his peace and if you were to read all of John 16 you would see that we also have his presence in the form of his Holy Spirit, who is our comforter and companion, so we never need to face our difficulties on our own.

Paul wrote to the Roman believers:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

James wrote something similar in his letter to the early Christian believers:

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 (VOICE)

Both Paul and James tell us to rejoice in our troubles. It's not that we find some sadistic joy in pain and suffering but rather we can find joy in knowing that these difficulties will develop within us endurance, patience, character and hope. We can look forward to the hope of a glorious reward awaiting us - an eternity in heaven with God. When we keep eternity in mind, we realise that actually, our time here on earth is short.

Jesus himself was able to endure immense suffering because of where he kept his focus.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1b-3 (NLT)

Where are you fixing your eyes?

To Think About:
What trials, difficulties or suffering are you experiencing? If you are not in a trial right now, how can you encourage someone who is?

Are you focused on the trials or on God? What difference does a changed perspective make as you go through trials?

Can you see how God is developing your character and strengthening your faith during these trials? In what ways have these trials developed your character and made you stronger in your faith?

Vicki

If  what you read was of interest to you, then you may like to know that my book "Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" is available to buy from Amazon. (Its content is material adapted from previous blog posts.) To learn more, click on the link below: 

Dear Friend...

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