For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If
you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at
rest."
What better person to pen these words than Corrie ten
Boom since she was a survivor of World War II Nazi death camps. Her family
helped many Jews escape Nazi Germany, but on February 28, 1944, they were all
arrested for their crimes and shipped off to Scheveningen prison. Two of her
family members-along with a nephew, were released immediately. One died 10 days
later. Corrie and a remaining sister were shipped to another prison camp and
then another where Corrie's sister died on December 28, 1944. Before dying, she
related to Corrie, "There is no pit so deep that He [God] is not deeper
still." Twelve days later, Corrie was released.
Corrie ten Boom's pain must have seemed everlasting and
unbearable. Paul endured his share as well yet wrote, "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!" (II Corinthians 4:17)
Pain is no respecter of persons. We all endure it. Some
for shorter periods of time. Others seem to be afflicted their entire life with
physical pain. And still others seem never to escape emotional battles and
brokenness.
I've learned to accept painful episodes-regardless of
their nature, as coming from God. Though he doesn't send incidents that
conflict with his nature, he at least allows them and uses them in some way for
my good. My greatest life lessons have arrived through unpleasant affairs.
And as Paul relates, pain-whether spiritual, emotional,
or physical, is temporary. It may appear to last forever, but God controls its
duration. When I compare occurrences of tenderness with the joy and bliss of
heaven, it's much easier to endure.
How are you responding to your outbreaks of pain?
Dear Lord, Thank You for guiding us through our chapters
of pain and also for giving us the assurance that when compared with eternity
they will be light and temporary. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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