The Paradox of Pain ∙∙∙
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
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
18 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.
The Purpose of Surgery
Surgery serves several important purposes, from diagnosing conditions to treating physical problems. It is used to investigate and identify medical issues, remove blockages, repair or replace diseased tissues or organs, and treat broken bones or injuries. The main goals of surgery are to save lives, reduce pain and suffering, and enhance patients’ overall quality of life.
Pain as a Part of Healing
Pain is a regular part of the recovery process after surgery. Effective pain management is essential for restoring quality of life and enabling patients to return to their daily activities. Implementing good strategies for controlling postoperative pain not only aids in recovery but also reduces the risk of complications. While pain can be uncomfortable, it is often a necessary part of the healing process and contributes to restoring health.
Spiritual Surgery
The Father, as the designer and creator of humanity, has complete understanding of the human body, spirit, and mind. Much like a skilled surgeon who enhances a patient’s physical well-being, the Father performs “spiritual surgery” to refine and transform His children. This spiritual process, like physical surgery, often comes with its share of pain.
Why so? Sorrow and discomfort are not just challenges; they are essential to our spiritual growth. These difficult experiences often bring deep feelings of sadness or anxiety and can push us to face our deepest fears and weaknesses. During tough times, we learn valuable lessons and develop resilience that helps us renew ourselves. In the midst of our struggles, we often discover new beginnings, enabling us to emerge stronger, wiser, and closer to our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Role of Pain in Spiritual Growth
Understanding how the Father uses pain for our growth can significantly change our perspective. In various aspects of life, we willingly endure temporary pain in pursuit of a greater goal. For example, athletes engage in rigorous and often painful training to prepare for competition. Musicians dedicate numerous hours to intense practice and repetition, refining their skills and developing muscle memory as they explore and visualize the essence of the music. Farmers invest considerable effort and labor to yield a fruitful harvest.
Similarly, adversity is a tool the Father uses to accomplish His purposes in and through us. His goal is not to hurt us but to strengthen, refine, and develop our character. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this perspective; he viewed his suffering as a vital part of his spiritual journey, allowing him to grow and fulfill his calling.
Paul’s Perspective on Suffering
Paul’s struggles were neither insignificant nor fleeting; they were a persistent and heavy part of his ministry. Nonetheless, Paul chose to view his suffering through the lens of the eternal glory that awaited him. He understood that the hardships he faced were temporary when juxtaposed with the everlasting rewards being prepared for him. He boldly declared in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Colin Kruse explains, “Paul’s afflictions were, of course, neither slight nor momentary in themselves. They were the burdensome and virtually constant accompaniment of his ministry. Yet by comparison with the weighty and eternal character of the glory being prepared for him, he saw them as but slight and momentary.”
REFLECT & PRAY
From the Father’s perspective, spiritual growth outweighs comfort and ease. Trials and tribulations are not meaningless; they help build endurance and shape proven character. Paul explained in Romans 5:3-4: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
This process of growth, though painful, is ultimately for our benefit and His glory.
Father, help me learn to see things as they truly are. Help me to see them as You do and be thankful for them.
INSIGHT
Suffering from an Eternal Perspective
The Apostle Paul’s struggles, both internal and external, reveal a deep focus on the unseen and eternal. His challenges go beyond the physical realm, as he turns his attention toward inner transformation. Paul highlights the renewal and strengthening of the human spirit, which contrasts sharply with the inevitable decline of the physical body. While everything physical wears down with age, the human spirit becomes stronger through suffering and spiritual growth.
The Temporary Versus the Eternal
Paul’s emphasis on the eternal is a common theme in his writings. He compares the fleeting nature of the visible world with the everlasting nature of the unseen spiritual realm. Paul’s eternal perspective reveals a profound irony: the tangible, visible things that seem permanent are actually temporary, while the unseen, spiritual realities endure eternally.
Paul explains Colossians 3:1-2: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Paul encourages believers to shift their focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities. By prioritizing the unseen, eternal truths, we can avoid the discouragement that often accompanies life’s visible struggles.
Suffering and the Glory to Come
Suffering is rarely seen as helpful, but Paul presents it as an opportunity for spiritual growth and future glory. He recognizes the pain and groaning of creation, believers, and even himself, but he frames this suffering with the hope of eternal life that awaits.
Romans 8:18-26: “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation eagerly awaits that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 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.”
Paul reminds children of the King that their present suffering is insignificant compared to the glory that will be revealed. This hope, rooted in the promise of redemption and renewal, sustains us as we endure trials.
The Purpose in Adversity
What is the Father’s purpose behind trials and suffering? While adversity can be painful, it serves as a tool for the Father to refine and strengthen His children. During tough times, the outer layers of our lives are stripped away, helping us uncover our true priorities and what we rely on. This process allows God to remove anything that stands in the way of making Christ the central focus of our lives.
Charles Stanley notes that suffering reveals our authentic selves, challenging our pride, self-reliance, and misplaced securities. God uses these moments to draw us closer to Him, ensuring that nothing rivals His place in our hearts.
Paul’s Perspective on Affliction
How did Paul choose to effectively deal with the affliction that the Father brought into his life? Paul’s life was filled with intense suffering, including beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger. Despite these struggles, he chose to minimize them in light of the greatness of what was to come. 2 Corinthians 4:18 tells us how he did it, “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.”
Every child of the King possesses dual citizenship, belonging to both Earth and heaven. Paul chose to focus on his heavenly citizenship instead of his earthly struggles. What a remarkable perspective. It changes everything! Eternity lasts forever, while our experiences on Earth are temporary. We can think of our earthly life as one grain of sand compared to all the sand on the planet.
Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He realized that the glory of the future would far surpass the difficulties of the present.
The Call to Focus on Eternal Realities
If we allow life’s challenges to dominate our focus, they can obscure the glorious future that awaits us. Paul encourages children of the King to focus on eternal and spiritual matters, which have lasting importance.
How do we accomplish this? Paul explains Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
By maintaining this eternal perspective, believers can endure suffering with hope and confidence, knowing that their trials are preparing them for an incomparable glory.
The Wisdom of Perspective
Seneca was a prominent Roman philosopher, statesman, playwright, and orator who asserted, “We fail to know what is necessary because we study unnecessary things.” This serves as a reminder to prioritize what truly matters: the eternal and unseen realities that shape our spiritual growth and destiny.
Paul’s emphasis on the eternal helps us view suffering differently. By seeing our challenges as opportunities to grow and renew, we can find strength and hope in the promise of a better future. The Father’s work in our lives may involve discomfort, but it always serves a purpose. By trusting His plan and viewing our challenges from His perspective, we can find strength and hope even in tough times.
The Apostle James tells us how to understand and deal with adversity in our lives, James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
By embracing the Father’s perspective, we can endure the pain of spiritual surgery, knowing that it leads to growth, renewal, and a deeper relationship with Him.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 