“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding andeternalweight of glory…” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Bitter or Better

As my husband and I were sitting in church yesterday, discussing some challenges and choices we needed to make, he made the comment, “There is a fine line between becoming bitter or better.” As he said those words, I had an a-ha moment. I asked him what the one difference was between those two words. He said, “Bitter has the “I” in it.”

Isn’t that so true? When we are focused on ourselves it’s easy to become bitter in the day-after-day challenges. “I don’t want to…, It’s not fair that I have to…, Why don’t I get to….” When we keep our eyes on ourselves, we can become bitter, discontent, angry, and resentful, which leads us down a very slippery slope and can wreak havoc in our lives and in the lives of others.

“Better,” on the other hand, focuses on the eternal. “God, what would You have me learn from this? Lord, how can I best love on them in this situation? Abba, help me to see Your perspective about….”

With an eternal perspective, our afflictions become light, not meaning they aren’t tough, but they are quick. In light of all eternity, even though those tough seasons may seem like they last forever, they are but a moment in eternity. If I have that perspective—keeping my eye on the eternal God who is my refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27a)—Who, as we are told in verse 26, rides across the heavens to help me—then I can be “better” in any given situation.

Ladies, I pray we can do as Paul did. May we “not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen aretemporary, but the things which are not seen areeternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

So much of what is happening in our lives is going on in the unseen spiritual realm. It’s working out an eternal glory we can’t even begin to fathom. In life’s challenging situations, it always really comes back to trust. Do I trust God knows what He is doing? Regardless of what things look or sound like, do I trust the eternal God to work all things out for my good and His glory? I pray every time we are able to answer yes.

“Father God, as we face challenging times, help us take our eyes off of ourselves and keep them on You. When faced with the choice of becoming bitter or better, help us choose better. Amen.”