Disappointments are inevitable – discouragement is a choice ∙

Disappointments are inevitable – discouragement is a choice ∙

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! – 2 Corinthians 4:17

Romans 8:18-24

 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

 20 But with eager hope

 21 The creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

 24 We were given this hope when we were saved.

Disappointments, a universal part of our human experience, are indeed inevitable. However, the choice to be discouraged by them is entirely ours. How we cope with them is frequently a defining moment in our lives. How we respond to disappointment often stems from our upbringing. Some individuals may dodge disappointment by consistently setting low expectations for themselves. In contrast, others may do so by aiming too high, setting themselves up for inevitable failure.

Regardless of the way we lean, it’s crucial to handle it constructively when disappointment strikes. This involves understanding the root cause of our disappointment and reflecting on our expectations. Were they realistic and achievable? Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, we can learn from the experience and make better decisions in the future. Remember, disappointment is inevitable, but letting it lead to discouragement is always a conscious choice we make. (Harvard Business Review)

Our perspective in life, especially during challenging times, significantly influences our resilience and response to adversity.

The apostle Paul exemplifies an admirable attitude due to his forward-looking perspective. His focus wasn’t tethered to the present struggles but was instead anchored in the anticipation of future glory, the promised inheritance of every child of the King.

When viewed against the backdrop of this eternal glory, the troubles we face in our fleeting earthly lives diminish in significance. They are but a mere trifle of no lasting importance.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an eternal glory far beyond all comparison that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

The glory that Paul refers to encapsulates the countless blessings associated with our promised inheritance in the life yet to come. It serves as a succinct term for the splendid future that awaits us. In this sense, it is equivalent to the Hope of our calling, our extraordinary and magnificent future destiny.

Colossians 1:5 Your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.

1 Peter 1:4 We have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

Of course, when we are in the midst of our difficulties, it is hard to believe that anything good could possibly come out of them. Yet, the trials we face pale compared to those endured by Paul. He mastered the art of dealing with adversity, adapting, and overcoming. Paul’s goal is to guide us in managing our struggles effectively and learning to cope. Paul discovered that he could maintain a laser focus on the contrast between his present difficulties and confident hope for the future. The result was extraordinary perseverance.

He learned and adopted a mindset that effectively navigated his way through hardships. On the one hand, his present difficulties were grievous, but on the other hand, his rewards were pure glory. Thus, relatively speaking, his challenges were light, while the rewards were heavy. His difficulties were short, fleeting, and temporary, while his rewards would last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:17 could be translated as: “For our temporary lightness of affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is out of all proportion [to the affliction] (Kruse).  

REFLECT & PRAY

God will never be a debtor to anyone. That means that any “sacrifice” we make or hardship we endure for His sake and by His Spirit, He will amply reward out of all proportion to what we suffered” (Stanley).

Father let Your perspective become my perspective. Teach me to see things as You see them and respond appropriately.

INSIGHT

But there is more. While the children of the King are undergoing difficulties on earth, they are being prepared for glory. An inner transformation has begun.

Exodus 33:18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

The Hebrew word translated as glory is kabod. It is commonly used for the Father’s glorious presence. Kabod connotes something heavy, weighty, worthy, overwhelming, momentous, portentous, significant,or substantial. It is hard for us to wrap our arms around this intriguing idea. The Father’s glory is heavy! In 21st-century English, we might substitute words such as awesome, humongous, massive, or “supersized.” Thus, the presence of the Father is wondrous and glorious.

Each child of the King is destined to be in His presence forever; that is our future hope of glory, our glory to come.

Paul’s terminology, particularly his use of “the weight of glory,” likely stems from the Hebrew language, where the words for “weight” and “glory” share the same root, kbd. Present suffering can be overwhelming, brutal, and relentless and is by no means trivial. However, when measured against the certain and immense glory that awaits us, current afflictions appear slight, almost negligible within the vast expanse of eternity. Our present difficulties are fleeting and light.

The relationship between our present-day suffering and future glory isn’t as straightforward as exchanging one for the other. Such a view would be overly simplistic. Instead, our future glory emerges as the byproduct and outcome of our present difficulties. The deeper our understanding and perspective on adversity, the better equipped we are to face hardships. As a result, the greater the glory will be. The divine formula is straightforward and logical. As we respond appropriately to difficulties on earth, we are inwardly transformed, enhancing our eventual glory.

It’s beyond our imagination what the Father has prepared for us. Consider what it will be like to arrive and be welcomed into our eternal home. The Father awaits you with open arms. He hands you a gift. As you unwrap it, wonder fills your eyes. “Is this really for me?” you ask. “Yes, my child,” He replies. “Forever?” you inquire. “Indeed,” He assures. “But why?” you ponder. “This,” He explains, “is in recognition of your hardship.” He gestures towards a pile of beautifully wrapped gifts. “These, too, are yours,” He says with a smile. “Enjoy, my cherished one, revel in the glory promised to you!”

Few and far between are children of the King who have mastered the art and science of reacting properly to adversity with grace and confidence. You’ll notice their serene spirit and optimistic outlook when you find one. Over time, they’ve honed a response to hardship that yields a rich harvest of glory in their earthly lives. This path is open to every child of the King. Each of us can do it. The opportunity and the power are ours. Remember, disappointment is a choice (Stanley).

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© Dr. H 2024