“…in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness…as dying and behold we live, as chastened, and yet not killed;” 2 Cor. 6:4,5,9
But he also says in another section that in these hard trials that they don’t get him down.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressedon 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.” 2 Cor. 4:7-10
Yet it still seems to me, that these trials are not light. So my question is, why does he call them light and why do they not get him down?
It is because of the rest of the verse which shows what he is focusing on.
“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.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18
Paul is actually focusing up and beyond the trial, just over the mire and onto the eternal, where Jesus is. And in doing so, he knows that all of it is working for good, for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I like that, the weight of glory. And yes, it is a weight, a glorious weight and it is being worked in us through this trial to prepare us for eternal glory. In comparison to that, yes, the trial here on earth will be ‘light’ because of what it is doing in us now, for then.
Often in trial the battle is fought on what you do with your mind, and what platform you stand on as a result.
Trial focuses the attention on what’s most important and opens the channels to more blessing. So what is important to you? Getting out of the trial or wanting to bring God the most glory? It would be nice to have both, but if you had to choose one, which one would you choose? If you choose the latter you are in a better position to be standing on the high ground.
It is not that you don’t battle, it is what position you battle from, where you stand to put up your flag. You must choose your spot and say ‘I am staying here, so help me God’. You either camp on victory or defeat, on hope or despair, on faith or on fear. You have to choose where you are going to stand and from this point you do battle.
When you camp on hope, you see the glory above the trial. You believe that God is good, that the trial is meant for a blessing and not a curse and that it will be alright because He will be with you every step of the way no matter how bad things get. This is the foundation that you will interpret everything else that comes your way. Because even though you may not be able to see in the fog or even understand what God is doing over all, you know God, and that is enough for you. You put your hand in His and He will take it and lead you through.
What is the purpose of trial? The Bible says some things on the topic:
“…But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Cor. 4:7
“…Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,” 2 Cor. 1:9
Other relevant verses:
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:14
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6
So with all that being said,
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Cor. 16:13