Affliction Last A Moment, But Produce Much More...

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17

The biggest mistake you can make in this life is allowing your afflictions of today to limit of restrict your abilities tomorrow… Paul, the writer of this epistle to the church of Corinth, found himself dealing with various afflictions throughout his life… This is the same Paul who was given a thorn in the flesh, pushed aside by the disciples of Christ instead of being received with open arms and ridiculed for his life in the days which he was known as Saul… Paul suffered much for the cause of Christ and today we are called to realize that we too must endure affliction… At the time of his conversion, this is the same Paul which Jesus spoke to Ananias about in the 9^th chapter of Acts when He told him “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” God has designed you for a unique purpose, He has called to you to carry out a special plan and the plan that God has for you will not be a smooth transition nor will it be a smooth plan to execute… The message for today is that no matter what the affliction is, no matter how much you feel that you are enduring or facing right now; know that the situation is light… Paul says for our light affliction;  these circumstances aren’t as difficult as we classify them to be, these situations will not overtake you, but will simply toy with your emotions so that you overtake yourself… Know that the enemy has no power unless you give it to him and even if you have given it to him, know today that his appearance of victory won’t last long as Paul goes on to say that it is but for a moment…  Affliction is a hardship, suffering or a burden; the word of God is telling us today that there will come a time when we will feel the burdens of life; however, this same season we see coming we will also see going and the end results will produce a better you… Know that the test you endure is forming and molding you to be used by God for a bigger and better purpose… Stop complaining about your situation and start praising God because you know that it won’t last and it is meant for your God… Paul suffered and his suffering produced a huge chunk of the New Testament… Your labor is not in vain and even if you don’t see the end results of your work on this earth, you can find comfort in knowing that our labor here worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… When gold is refined it must be sent through intense heat several times to burn off the impurities. Each and every time the process is completed; gold becomes that more useful and valuable. Our mindset should be the same as gold, for we have to be developed and structure by the grace of God to realize our true value. Don’t be discouraged by the storms or the feeling of hitting rock bottom. Just know that Jesus is with you and that your perseverance must be completed, so that you are lacking NOTHING…Without the struggles of life we would not appreciate the fulfillment life brings… A spoiled child isn’t one who simply gets what they want; no, a spoiled child is one who gets what they want without working to obtain it… When someone is spoiled they don’t appreciate the effort, the work or sweat that someone has put in for their benefit…

The Israelites were lead out of captivity under Pharaoh, they received manna from heaven and various other provisions for their daily survival; however, because of the manifold blessings of God they continued to stray away from Him and serve other God’s… The point of this story is that we should embrace challenges, accept hardships and “consider it pure joy when we face trials…” These trials bring about maturity in you which will develop into character and eventually lead to a strong relationship between you and God… There is a reason behind your pain and struggles… In order to stand up, you must be put down; in order to rise, you must fall and in order to shine, you must be in darkness! Paul writes his second letter to the church of Corinth encouraging them to withstand the attacks and trials that they are facing… He speaks to them on the basis of perseverance and maintaining their faith through hardships… What he is saying to us to day is simply that we must go through to get through… We have to face trials, we have to face sleepless nights, and we have to face tears and sadness in order to know we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us… We have to go through to realize that God is faithful and has promised to deliver you! Paul says that your afflictions are light; this message is not to belittle the adversity you face, but to encourage you in knowing that you will and can overcome… This message informs you that God will never put more on you than you can bare and the He will always see you through… The bible often refers to God’s children as Gold… Gold is dingy, filthy and a hard metal that is reformed and purified to achieve its richest value. We are a dingy, filthy and hard people; we have entered this world in sin and surely have not reached our true value! God is reforming us and purifying us through our hardships and trials! Gold isn’t valued until it comes through the fire; people don’t see your faith and God’s faithfulness until you go through the fire! The fire that purifies comes through the challenges that we face in life! You’re being purified when your friends turn on you, you’re being purified when people talk about you, and you’re being purified when you feel like you just can’t catch a break or get ahead! Your purification is complete when you have become humbled and allowed God to take over! Understand that stubbornness will not end your afflictions, people can’t end your afflictions and monetary things can’t end your afflictions! God has begun a work in you that He will complete until the day of Christ return… He is fortifying your foundation, and bringing you into a perfect creature that is lacking nothing! The pain will seem long at times, but the result will last for all eternity!

BE BLESSED!!!