Unfolding Glory

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (AMP)  For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble]…

Tragedy doesn’t feel temporary. Present pain can seem permanent. Circumstances and situations just a way of life. All of these pressures are so heavy. The moment feels so monumental. It is easy to say, “This too shall pass” or “I trust God” as a believer when deep inside if completely honest one might confess in the moment that these are just the words one is supposed to say. To grin and bear it. To suffer as a good soldier because after all God only gives his strongest warriors the toughest battles. Well, that’s just ridiculous. Honestly, to become a warrior is to achieve inner peace. It is not how hard you fight but how committed you are. A soldier follows orders but a warrior surrenders his life. To die for the cause isn’t a good attitude until night turns to day but a lay your life down even if tomorrow never comes.

We must gain perspective on surrender to enjoy it day by day. There will be suffering in this life for everyone. All of us. No one is exempt or immune…even the most pious Christian. Some relish in agony because hope of healing is too farfetched or forsaking the role of victim too lonesome. We must come to the understanding that for us there will be suffering but it is to be momentary and light distress because its purpose is transformation. It is transporting us from the temporary to eternal things of God.

My faith must be greater than fear and pain. Fear manifested in my life is faith deficit. Nothing exposes our weakness more than the unexpected hardships that produce suffering along the way. When normal life turns into a tragic situation, all pretenses of control are gone and every fear hidden deep within us is brought into glorious light. God is sought after at the end of ourselves. To pursue a continuation of life past the impossible is when faith and hope are usually found. It is in our complete undoing that transformation is possible. When God can take hold of a once hard heart molding and shaping it to capture His Glory.

 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 

The Message Bible calls such an opportunity as “unfolding grace”. I love that! My sister gave me some boxes filled with china passed down from our great aunts. I unloaded the boxes from the car but just recently started to go through them. As I began unwrapping these mismatched pieces, I found fond memories of Thanksgivings at their homes. However, at the bottom of one of the boxes was expensive Franciscan pieces of great worth yet wrapped in old linens and newspaper. The covering did not represent the precious contents of the package. Unfolding grace is a lot like that I think. We step closer to God and He envelops us with more grace. But something must lead us to such a place. Cleaning the garage had a purpose that did not include finding expensive china in a box. Yet in the midst of all the dirt and sweat – it is exactly what I found hidden in a box under other things less worthy.

Is grace unfolding in your life? I am right there with you. Our greatest resistance in such times is fear of completely releasing it all to the Lord. To say, “I trust God” and actually follow through is a difficult and devastating process. A total loss of control is needed to assume full trust in the Living God. I will let you in on a little secret to lessen your struggle. He is in control. He put a plan in motion before you arrived that didn’t change along the way. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. You may have left Him but He never left you. God is still good on bad days. He is our strength in every weakness. He allows things to happen in our life with purpose because He works all things together for our good just because we love Him. It is all for His Glory. He isn’t going to fail you. Never. Not once. Total dependence on God comes at the end of self. What brings us to that place? Tragedy. Suffering. Pain. Disappointment. Devastation. Why? His Grace is unfolding around us. He was to empower us. He is ready to bestow on us the “weight of His Glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (AMP) Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

Why me? Why not? God’s grace is sufficient for you. It must be owned by you. It must be the covering of our life for our soul’s sake. It cannot be given up for self-righteousness or religiosity that allows us to attempt to earn the reward of His Glory. His Glory is imparted by His Grace. This the strength for every believer that must be attained for our eternal sake. It is not found in our successes but failures. It is at the end of human confidence that reaches for the anchor of His Hope. Desperation craves dependence. It is the place that He is found and finally held on to. When hope is all you have – it becomes enough in our complete surrender to Jesus Christ, His Word and His Way. We must learn to see the temporary and momentary afflictions of life as heavenly opportunities to grab hope a little tighter and plant faith a little deeper. It will produce a reward for those who allow unfolding grace to produce a wealth of His Glory.