2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we don’t look 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.
These three verses show Paul’s mindset toward the sufferings he endured as a Christian. No matter how difficult his life on earth was, the glory he brought to God and the eternal reward God promised made everything worth it.
Paul’s attitude sets a good example for us to follow when facing any hardships. God desires His children to be so focused on Him that when things are tough, we will faithfully obey Him with patience and joy. This type of attitude brings to remembrance the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. The words to the hymn were written by Horatio Spafford shortly after the death of his four daughters. The message of the song is that no matter how hard our temporal circumstances are, everything is OK as long as we are right with God. Notice the second verse of the song: Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Consider both a good and bad example of this attitude from the book of Job. In Job 1, Satan killed Job’s children, servants, and animals (verses 12-19). Job said “blessed be the name of the Lord” after this (verse 21), and he “did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing” (verse 22).
In the second chapter, Satan “struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head” (verse 7). Job’s wife responded to this, “Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die” (verse 9). Job answered, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (verse 10).
Job, unlike his wife, demonstrated the proper reaction to hardships. Consider also the “exodus” generation of Israelites. God fulfilled His promise to lead them out of Egyptian bondage (Exod. 12:41; Gen. 15:13-14). Though they saw the “great work” God did in defeating the Egyptians (Exod. 14:31), the Israelites lacked gratitude toward, and faith in, God.
They murmured against Him constantly, suggesting it would have been better for them to stay in Egypt (Exod. 16:2-3; 17:2-3; Num. 14:1-3). On one occasion, they even murmured because the food God provided was not as tasty as they preferred (Num. 11:4-6).
The difference between the Israelites and people like the apostle Paul is not circumstances, but faith. Joy, hope, and peace in the midst of trials are by-products of focusing one’s life on serving God instead of serving self.
This attitude enabled Paul to write (while in prison), “Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it” (Phil. 4:11). As far as Paul knew, the next day could bring sorer trials than he had ever faced. Yet, Paul was content knowing that He had been redeemed from sin through Christ (Eph. 1:7). Paul’s life on earth was filled with trials, but he rejoiced, knowing that heaven will be a place of eternal comfort. If we are right with God, we can be at peace. Whatever earthly “state” we are in, we can say, “It is well with my soul,” and proclaim, “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho’t! My sin not in part but the whole, Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”
– Michael Hickox