Look Past What Hurts You Now & Remember What Lies Ahead

As Christians, we’re certainly no strangers to the concept of suffering. From the very beginnings of faith outlined in Scripture, the harsh realities of pain, loss, persecution, and hardship have been woven into the fabric of the spiritual life. Christ Himself warned that in this world we will face troubles and tribulations (John 16:33). It’s not a matter of if affliction will strike, but when and in what form.

Yet in the midst of suffering’s harsh inevitabilities, Jesus also issued a powerful promise – that we can still have inexplicable, untouchable joy in the midst of it all (John 16:22). A supernatural sense of peace, hope and even gladness that transcends our circumstances and temporal troubles. But how is such a thing even possible when we’re emotionally and physically drained by affliction?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” the Apostle James boldly declares (James 1:2). Pure joy… in the midst of trials and suffering? To the human mind, this seems paradoxical at best. How can we possibly experience joy while walking through pain, loss, injustice or affliction?

Though grief, sadness, and pain are all very real sojourners in a fallen, broken world, the unmerited grace and love of our Savior give believers undeniable reasons to remain joyful. All our present sorrows are put into proper perspective when we consider that our citizenship, identities, and eternal destinies are now heavenly (Philippians 3:20). Our trials are producing in us perseverance and a radiant spiritual maturity (Romans 5:3-5).

The key is adjusting our spiritual lens. Too often our finite human perspective blinds us to the deeper purposes and provisions of God being worked out behind the scenes of our suffering. All we can see is the present anguish and don’t understand the future joy it’s producing.

The biblical figures most embodied this counterintuitive life of joy. Consider the apostle Paul, who described himself as being “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Despite being beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and scorned for his faith, Paul’s vision remained fixed on the eternal weight of glory awaiting him. He celebrated his sufferings as a means of being shaped into Christ’s likeness.

Or take the shining example of Christ Himself. The Bible says that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and all its shame (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus embraced unfathomable suffering out of obedient love for the Father and love for a humanity in need of redemption. His joy flowed from knowing His sacrifice was the means of making our eternal joy possible.

For believers facing seasons of profound pain, loss, or adversity, here are some paths to cultivating a similar joyful spirit:

Adjust your perspective. Resist dwelling on your temporary light afflictions and instead meditate on the far greater eternal glories that these trials are preparing you for (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Fix your vision on Jesus. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith whose joyful endurance of the Cross has made our joy possible (Hebrews 12:2).
Rest in God’s purposes. Your present suffering is never random, but has an appointed season and reason that is mysteriously working for your ultimate good and growth (Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4).
Take comfort in God’s promises. Receive the Scriptures’ reminders that joy inexpressible and gloriously eternal awaits those who trust in Christ through this temporary valley (Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 1:8).

Suffering will remain an inescapable appointment in our earthly lives. But how we choose to traverse those hardships is what distinguishes the joy-filled Christian life from one diminished by hopelessness and despair. May we be empowered by Christ’s example to embrace our difficulties with confident, unshakable joy, knowing our afflictions are slicing away the temporary to make way for an eternal glory beyond our wildest dreams.

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