The list of cares from our this week’s prayer group meeting was long:  pending surgeries, diseases, ongoing health issues. And not just those who are older…..all ages! It can be overwhelming!
 
Today’s Bible reading is written by Paul. He sees our problems as temporary. And my Bible commentary sees them as ‘opportunities’. We need to focus on God, not so much as our troubles at hand.
 

"These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!  So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."

~ 2 Corinthians 4:17 & 18 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. Instead, we should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits:

* they help us remember Christ's suffering for us;
* they help keep us from pride;
* they help us look beyond this brief life;
* they prove our faith to others;
* they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his great power.

"Don't resent your troubles----see them as opportunities."

 
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