For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18
The past three jobs I’ve had have been temporary situations, not by choice just the way things have happened.
Knowing jobs are temporary makes it easier to deal with any problems there might be at said job. Stress is easier to handle knowing it won’t last forever and you’ll be moving on soon. I’m on temporary assignment, just passing through, and soon I’ll be on to the next thing.
I’ve come to realize that life is the same way. As Christians, we’re all on temporary assignment on this earth. We’re just passing through and soon everything we’re faced with will fade away.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 reminds us, “17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 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.”
We ought to view life through the lens of eternity. Life is hard, everyone knows that, but remembering that our troubles won’t last forever makes the pressure a little lighter. It’s wise to ask: will this matter in heaven?
There are times we get so fixated on what we’re going through (even the good times) that we forget about what really matters to God and to eternity. Make sure your priorities are in line.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10
Only three things will last forever: God, His Word, and people. Invest in these things because when you depart from this earth and finally stand before the Creator of the earth those are the things that will matter.
I struggle with keeping things in perspective and I think that a big contributing factor is how task-driven I tend to me.
It’s embarrassing to admit this, but a lot of times my joy and sense of satisfaction are dictated by how ‘productive’ I’ve been on any given day. I use the quotation marks because my productivity is how many pages I read of my current book, if I finished writing a chapter, or if I was able to watch a new movie.
When things you love doing make you feel bad about yourself for not doing them…that’s a problem. And it’s a constant battle for me. God has reminded me (and still needs to daily) that He’s not going to be disappointed in me when I only read ten books a year versus fifteen.
He’s not going to take me aside and ask why I didn’t finish reading book one month versus another. He’s created the written word and movies for my pleasure, not to mark my success by.
So remember, you have eternity waiting for you. Don’t be concerned or stressed about things that will fade away one day.
Focus on relationships over tasks, God over the things of this world. View life through the lens of eternity.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5
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- Remember… It’s Only Temporary - October 25, 2017
- When You’re Struggling With Feelings of Inadequacy - March 21, 2017
- When God Gives Us a Task… - October 6, 2016
