Walking Through the Dark with God, Part 2

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

How many mothers have held up a supposedly white sheet to their astounded offspring and asked the age-old question: “What color is this?” The timeless response usually consists of an indication that it “looks white to me.” When laid next to a clean sheet, it is apparent that clean is a relative term. Just as there are shades of clean when dealing with white (?) sheets, so too the difficulties we face in life may look less grim to someone else.

A case in point: “I complained about the bright sunlight hurting my eyes until I happened to notice a blind child who stood nearby.” There are those who go through life who live with what we commonly refer to as “handicaps.” Some are physical, some emotional; some are due to one’s race, sex, or national origin. Some handicaps are undetectable, while others cannot escape your notice. Those with pronounced handicaps who happen to struggle hard enough and “make it” are applauded for being “normal.” They are finally accepted because they can perform like “everyone else.”

How wonderful it is to know that God does not accept us on the basis of our performance, and He extends His hand of mercy to those who find themselves with a burden too heavy to bear. He is with you, and He will carry you through.

“Never a burden He cannot bear, never a friend like Jesus!”
                                                                                           -Edward Henry Joy