So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As I continue to ponder the idea of “faith as attention”, I find this in Paul. The context for 2 Cor 4:16-18 is suffering (we have this treasure in jars of clay….. we are afflicted in every way…) Paul’s explanation for why he does not lose heart calls to mind the image of a scale. On one side of the scale are his present suffering circumstances, and on the other side of the scale is the reality of his future in heaven. He does not lose heart because for him the glory of his future in heaven outweighs the suffering of his current circumstances. He is paying more attention to that future than he is to his present circumstances.

That is not an easy attitude to adopt. We live in the midst of our circumstances, so they easily capture our attention and can seem much more real to us than a promised future. Seeming more real is having weight and balances that scale toward losing heart. But Paul is able to have the scale balance toward the reality of our promised future, which is indeed glorious.

He talks about suffering in a similar way in Romans 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Here again is the image of a scale with the future glory outweighing the present suffering. This reminds me of an earlier blog post, Faith & Future, about the future orientation of faith in Hebrews. Paul has this future orientation in his life.

I wonder if this is the secret that he talks about in Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. The secret of contentment in a life where we will suffer need is the ability to have our promised future (when we will not lack for anything) capture our attention more than the need that we are currently suffering.

Again, this is a whole lot easier said than done. Some might object that it is not possible for us as bodily creatures to have a promised future be real enough to outweigh our very real suffering. That the only way to do this is to somehow deny the suffering, which is not healthy. And I would agree. We need help. This is where that oft-quoted out of context, I can do all things through him who strengthens me, comes into play. Christ can strengthen us to have this perspective where the future glory outweighs our present circumstances.

I think this is in Paul’s mind when he is praying for the Ephesians. In 3:16-17 he prays, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. What are they being strengthened to do? Is this the same strengthening that Paul writes to the Philippians about? Is this a strengthening of faith so that the promised future that we trust Christ for becomes real enough to capture our attention? This is pretty much what Paul has prayed earlier in 1:17-18, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

We want God to change our present circumstances so that is how we naturally pray and we should continue to pray about our needs. But we also must recognize this future element of our life with God and participate in the process of that future element becoming weightier for us. Spiritual disciplines/practices are a way to connect with the work of the Holy Spirit, who is strengthening us in that process. They help us to pay attention to that element of God’s presence so that we are not relying solely on answered prayer for the circumstances of our lives to be aware of God’s presence.

I would love to connect with you about these posts if they have stirred any thoughts or questions. Take a minute, shoot me an email at bo@leavenedlives.org, and let’s see where that takes us.