The “Moment” of Affliction

None of us like to be afflicted.

Pain, discomfort, emotional turmoil, or rifts between ourselves and a loved one all take their toll. But when we are in the will of God, there is a glorious truth we can cling to when in a time of affliction.—No matter how long the trial lasts or seems like it will last, in the grand scope of eternity, it is “but for a moment”

But before we look at the verse in which that promise is found, it is important to look at the context in which it has been given:

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul through the Holy Spirit is writing to the Christians at Corinth about sharing the gospel. In the first two verses, he describes the sincerity and truth with which they sought to preach Christ. Then he goes on to describe the spiritual blindness of the lost and the light of Christ shining into hearts:

“But God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”(v.6)

This knowledge is the “treasure” mentioned in the next verse.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (v.7)

And this is the first principle given in this passage that gives encouragement for times of affliction: whatever feels unbearable or impossible is on our own, but not with Christ!

Notice the kinds of affliction listed in the next few verses:

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

(vv. 8-16)

Joy in the face of trial, peace in the midst of dismay, life in the shadow of death, the glory of God through selfless sacrifice: all this is available to us when going through the trials of life. We can cling to the truth that God does mean each trial for our good, and He does offer you and I grace to walk victoriously every step of the way.

But that is not the only encouragement offered in this passage. Look at the next verse.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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.” (v.17-18)

You see, in the grand scope of eternity, our trials, however lengthy, are but a moment of time. Trials are intended for our good, but often we miss out on what God wants to do in and through us because we fix our focus on the temporal, rather than the eternal.

Faith walks through trials with eyes looking trustingly towards eternity, heart surrendered to God’s will, mind clinging to the truths of who God is.  When we face a trial with faith and eternal perspective, we turn our attention outward, rather than inward, and instead of moping or wallowing in the depths of our despair, we look for what God might have us to do on behalf of others.

One of the verses to which I have clung over the years is Psalm 119:75, which says,

“I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”

Our afflictions, whatever they may be and however long they may last, do serve a good purpose, as long as we see them for what they are in the light of eternity: momentary, purposeful, and opportunities to glorify God as we accept His grace to walk victoriously each day.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”   

1 Corinthians 15:57-58