The Reality

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The world as we know it is piled high with worry and strife and stress. Bowed under the weight of it all. We're literally sick, weary and tired of the doom and gloom of our so-called current reality. So, what is our reality?

Christ. He is our reality. Not our circumstances. If we read verses 8-9 in our text for today, we find that Paul's current reality was even worse and yet his eyes were fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

As followers of Christ, the Word tells us to cast our burdens on the Lord. We are the sheep of His pasture, not pack mules to be laden with the weight of the world. In Matthew 11:28 NLT, Jesus tells us, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. That's our true reality.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word to give us life, to encourage us, and to lift us up. Thank You that it provides a solid foundation on which to stand. When all else has failed, Father, You never fail us. Open our eyes of understanding and our hearts to receive Your Truths over any and all circumstances in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen