Don’t look at the troubles

Today’s Encouragement is 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT 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.

Don’t look at the troubles-

Recently we were talking with dear friends who were in the midst of great troubles. They didn’t bring it on themselves, it just came on them. And we discussed many possible responses with them, do this, don’t do that, try this… and we finally agreed that prayer was the best solution.  Not our efforts; not our plans, but God’s plan. 

We also, finally, when it should have been our first consideration, recognized that this trouble was spiritual in nature.  Not all troubles are, but for us, God’s adopted children, many of our problems are spiritual because we are spiritual beings… we are not of this world… we belong to God’s family. 

This verse rings true with our discussion with our friends… and our recognition (finally) that we were focused on the troubles, the things we saw, rather than focusing on what we cannot see, the spiritual matters which were influencing the physical troubles. 

Look beyond, my friends, all the light momentary troubles of this world… and fix your gaze on things which cannot be seen, the eternal truths which God has revealed to us in His Word!  This is reality, He is Reality. This world and its troubles and its pleasures will soon be gone.

Father, help us to recognize that as Your children, as eternal beings of Your own choosing, the unseen world is our true reality, lasting forever… and this ‘seen world’ and all its troubles will soon be gone!!

I fix my eyes on You

Tommy Walker