HOW DO WE DEAL WITH TROUBLES IN LIFE?
Realizing that we will have problems and troubles in life and that we will face persecution of one kind or another, the next question is: How do we deal with these things? What can we do to assure that we remain faithful and use the troubles in our lives to accomplish God's will? There's great teaching and comfort found in God's word that will help us in this regard, if we will just take heed.
First, we must realize that the troubles we face in life are only temporary and will end some day. I don't know about you, but when I know that something's going to end, even though it may be very difficult to go through, it makes it easier to deal with. Paul, in speaking of the gospel as a treasure in "earthern vessels" in Second Corinthians four, speaks of the things he and the other apostles faced when they preached the gospel. He said, beginning in verse eight, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
When we think about all the things Paul went through to preach the gospel. When we think about the persecutions, the threats of death, the imprisonments, the beatings and so on. When we look upon it from an entirely human standpoint, it's hard to see how Paul could call these things "our light affliction." But when we, like Paul, begin to realize that in view of eternity, in view of the fact that these things are temporary -- that they are but for a moment -- and begin to consider the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that shall be ours, we begin to see why Paul could say these things were "light afflictions." As we face the things we have to face in this life, let us be assured that they are only temporary in nature -- they are only for a moment, for a short time, and then they will be gone. We're looking for something far better, and something that is eternal. Something that offers eternal freedom from the troubles of this life. We must learn to look upon those things that are eternal.
One of the things that has always helped me when things look bleak is something I heard an elder of the church say when he was preaching along these lines many years ago. He said, "you know one of the things that has always comforted me in time of trouble is the phrase the Bible uses many times, that being 'and it came to pass.'" He said, "Although the Bible doesn't use the phrase in this way, we need to realize that these things we face will pass." When we're facing troubles, trials, temptations, illness, etc... we need to say to ourselves, "This too, shall pass." It's only temporary. It will only last for a short time. Even if it lasts a life time, it will be a short time when compared to eternity.
There can be no doubt, that when we enter through the gates into the city -- into heaven -- all the troubles we have faced in this life, all the pain and suffering, all the mental anguish will be forgotten. Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Think about that. All the suffering we may be facing in this life, all the problems... all the losses... all the troubles... as terrible and hard to bear as they are, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us! The phrase "this present time" means in this life. This implies "a future time." A future time when glory shall be revealed in us. That's the eternal glory when we will sit down with God in the eternal kingdom of heaven. If we are going to overcome and deal with the troubles we face now, our minds must be set on that which awaits us in eternity. Our minds must be set on heaven. We must realize that the troubles we face in this life are nothing compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us in heaven.
And so, these things are going to pass. And Jesus is going to come again, and take us home to heaven with Him where there will be no more troubles to face, ever again! We have a great promise made in Revelation chapter 21 and verse 4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
In view of what we are promised -- in view of heaven and eternity, we dare not let the troubles we face in this life make us become unfaithful to God. We dare not let these things overcome us. We can be victorious! We can win over these troubles! If we will but keep in mind that these things are only temporary and the absence of these things is eternal.
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