Slight & Momentary

In 2011 near the end of our time living in Dubai, I had to have a hysterectomy. We had insurance that covered everything. I was in the best hospital in Dubai with one of the top doctors in all of Europe performing my surgery. I had a huge private room for my recovery. All wonderful blessings. But then they sent me home. In Dubai (or rather all of the UAE), narcotics are not allowed outside of the hospital. I was sent home with Tylenol. The pain getting in and out of bed was excruciating during those first few days. One time coming back from the bathroom, I made it back to the edge of the bed and then cried because I didn’t want the searing pain to continue as I tried to lay down. My poor husband felt very helpless watching me.

If you had quoted 2 Corinthians 4:17 to me right then, telling me this was a slight and momentary affliction, I’m not sure I would have had a very godly response, or I might have told you that you had no idea what I was suffering. Now, that painful moment seems so distant.

2 Corinthians 4 was part of my recent reading. Verses 16-18 especially stood out to me because I have many friends and family that are suffering from abusive relationships, cancer and other health issues, grief, parents with kids that are hurting or have serious struggles, difficult jobs, parents or grandparents with failing bodies and minds, and futures that are mostly unknown. These circumstances do not seem light and momentary, so how do we take comfort in Paul’s words? First, let’s read more of the context. If you have time, I suggest you read all of chapter 4, but I will hit the highlights we will focus on today.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. . . For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-10, 15-18

Paul begins in verse 1 with recognizing that his ministry and all the suffering that comes with the ministry of the gospel is by the mercy of God. Knowing it comes by God’s mercy, he does not lose heart. Paul focuses on who God is. He may not know the complete picture, but he does look beyond his immediate situation. He trusts that God is working.

We often have tunnel vision when we view our suffering. We see only the suffering. I understand there can be different reasons for suffering. Paul is addressing the suffering that resulted from the ministry of the Gospel. As we work through 2 Corinthians 4, I hope that you will frame your suffering in light of the Gospel as well because however your suffering has come about, it can be used to share the gospel and bring glory to God. It begins by remembering that God is sovereign over your situation and that He is acting in mercy even if you aren’t able to it see right now.

Second, Paul understands that his suffering displays the surpassing power of God at work in his life (vs 7; 12:9). God alone could provide what Paul needed to persevere. What Paul (and often his companions) endured could not be handled in their own strength. Their circumstances were such that they displayed God’s power and glory alone. Likewise, your suffering can be an opportunity for God’s power to be made known. Stop trying to do things in your own strength. Your weakness can be a display for God’s glory.

Third, Paul gives us evidence of God’s mercy and power at work in their suffering (vs 8-9). Paul is afflicted (hunted) in every way, but he is not crushed. He is perplexed, but not driven to despair. He is persecuted, butnot forsaken. He is struck down, but he is never destroyed. He looks for and witnesses God’s mercy even in his suffering.

Fourth, Paul comprehends that his suffering in sharing the Gospel brings life and grace to others. Maybe your suffering isn’t a result of sharing the Gospel, but it can be used to share the Gospel. In your suffering, you can share how God has comforted you, Scriptures you have been holding onto or the eternal hope you have. You can share ways God has been merciful and blessed you both before your suffering and during your suffering. God is sanctifying you through your suffering, but what He is doing and has done can also be used to bring the life of the Gospel to others.

Fifth, Paul declares that as the gospel is proclaimed despite his suffering, thanksgiving can increase, and God be glorified. The Psalmist states in Psalm 30:11-12, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!” Suffering is never the final word for those who are in Christ. Although we are not promised everything will be made right here on earth, we are promised that everything will one day be perfect when Christ returns to take us home. We can be thankful and glorify God both for the good we see Him working in our suffering as well as the hope we have of eternity with no more suffering.

Sixth, Paul explains that though outwardly we may be wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed every day. God does not waste any of the moments in our lives. He is working every one of them for our good of being conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). Whether our suffering helps us discern sin in our life or grows our faith, God is using each circumstance to sanctify us, to make us more like Christ. He further has promised that He will complete this sanctifying work (Philippians 1:6).

Seventh, Paul placed his suffering within a bigger picture. Our suffering is slight and momentary compared to the weight of glory (vs 17). Just as the pain after my hysterectomy is a distant memory, so will any suffering we endure in this life be when we are in glory, forever to be in God’s presence. We do not think enough on the weight of glory. Our suffering is slight and momentary compared to what we deserve. Apart from Jesus’ atonement for our sin, we deserve death and hell not eternal life. Our suffering is slight and momentary compared to the suffering Jesus endured in our place for our sin from the moment He was born until His resurrection. Our suffering is slight and momentary compared to God’s blessings including His indwelling Spirit who sustains us.

Finally, Paul focused on the unseen not the seen. People in Paul’s day saw a man who once had worldly success and now was suffering. They saw failure. Paul had an eternal view. A view of the unseen. An eternal perspective sees the unrivaled success of others coming to saving faith and God being glorified. Paul didn’t care what others thought of him and his ministry as long as he was being faithful to God’s call. His reward was not of this earth. His reward was in heaven. Paul focused on the unseen and could then declare that his suffering was slight and momentary.

Reflection

1. Whatever your situation, it is your reality right now. It brings with it many emotions. Maybe your first step is to ask someone to pray for you. I listed eight things of how we reach the perspective of suffering as slight and momentary, but that doesn’t happen overnight. Paul used some hard words for how he felt about his suffering: afflicted (hunted), perplexed, persecuted and struck down. Paul didn’t say his suffering wasn’t hard. He didn’t dismiss the reality of his suffering. Let someone come alongside you in your suffering. Let them listen and pray with and for you.

2. Write out ways you have seen God’s mercy before and during your suffering. Take time to thank God for His mercy, sovereignty and faithfulness.

3. Do you see your suffering as an opportunity to share the Gospel and to glorify God? What is one thing you can do this week for your suffering to be used to glorify God?

4. You may not be in a place of suffering right now, but there is probably someone in your life that is. Pray for them. Be a listener. Point them to truth in a loving way. Help them see ways God has been merciful. Talk about what awaits you both in heaven.