“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! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
As I tearfully opened the sodden boxes of our stored belongings, wondering what was ruined, a verse came to mind,
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NLT
We were temporarily living with my parents, and our stuff was stored in Tom’s parents' garage. They had a plumbing issue in their bathroom above the garage, causing a leak that soaked several of our boxes and other items, including our mattress. We weren’t sure what was salvageable.
That period of time was already difficult. We were waiting for a job to open up and unsure how long that would take, how long we would be living with my parents, how long our stuff would be stored. Both sets of parents had been patient, loving, and gracious. There was no one to blame for the water damage. Sometimes things just happen.
But when that verse popped into my brain, it completely changed my perspective on going through the damage. The tears didn’t stop. There was some mourning and disappointment. But at the same time, there was hope. This was temporary. These things were just things. What really mattered was how I responded. I could choose an eternal perspective. I could choose to treasure Christ more than an earthly possession.
As it turned out, very few of our things were unsalvageable, and insurance more than covered anything that was lost. But the eternal perspective I gained is a treasure that I still carry. That simple shift helped me through the three and a half years of living in the in-between. That’s how long we lived downstairs at my parents’ with two preschoolers longing for a home of our own. It felt like forever, but the flood in the garage reminded me that it wasn’t. I have had that anchor to hold onto in every painful season since.
While you are in the middle of a painful season that feels like forever, remember that it is not. Forever is what is waiting for you on the other side of this life. Forever is where everything will be perfect, the perfect you long for right now.
Everything you hope for in this life may not be answered this side of heaven, but it will be answered. Your hope is grounded in eternity.
“And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT
What you have, dear friend, is a greater treasure than everything else you long for. What you have is the presence of Jesus Christ with you right now. You and I are not as aware of Him as He wants us to be. Your uncertain season is an invitation to experience Him and know Him better. That is what makes the unbearable bearable. That is the gift He is offering you and me in our painful, uncertain seasons.
Isn’t that a gift worth receiving?
Key Question: What is an eternal perspective?
A Scripture to Consider: “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! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
A YES Challenge: Ask yourself where you need to shift to an eternal perspective. Choose a verse that will remind you to make that shift and post it somewhere as a reminder.
Prayer: Lord, what I am going through right now is hard. It feels like it has already lasted forever and will never end. But it will. Even if that challenge never resolves while I am alive, it will be in heaven. This is not forever. Forever is where everything will make sense, and I will be with You. Thank You for reminding me to treasure You above all and inviting me to know You better through this. Amen.
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