Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light 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 4:16-18

What is your initial response to the verses above? If you could use one word to sum up those three verses, what would it be?

For me, I would choose the word hope. I may not always be considered the person with the most positive outlook ( I would say I’m a realist), but when I consider Paul’s response to suffering and pain, all I can see is the light of hope.

• Though he is pressed on all sides and most people would be crushed by the weight of life, Paul’s “inner self is being renewed day by day.”
• He considers the pain of life as a “light momentary affliction” in light of life lived eternally in the presence of God.
• Paul intentionally chooses to live a life of faith that looks for the unseen instead of being discouraged by what he is apparent.

Through a very brief conversation this morning, I was reminded of this truth. The pain we may feel at the moment is transient, but our hope is eternal.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).