(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul is reassuring us so that we might be encouraged to stay the course of our lives.  Look at your body.  It is aging.  If you are young it’s not so concerning, but at my age wasting away is a good analogy.  Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work within us renewing our souls and preparing us for eternity. 

Our troubles are sometimes overwhelming, yet compared to what they are achieving for us, they are light.  I don’t understand how our troubles in this life achieve eternal glory, or what our eternal glory is exactly.  This is where we trust in faith the one who is establishing eternal glory for us.  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.”

Paul reminds us that our troubles are momentary. Compared to eternity, the time of this life is quite short.  Our troubles will not last forever.  Even here and now, we have a great advantage.  We can take our troubles to our Heavenly Father.  He will help us through whatever comes our way.  Troubles come and go; Our Father is always with us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart.”  Paul was simply reminding us of what Jesus said to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”  So we stand encouraged dear friends, remembering, “…What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”