“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!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 TLB)
Dry socks are a luxury that I take for granted. The few times I’ve had to run in wet socks, I have been miserable. The miles seemed longer and harder. In retrospect, I admit that running in wet socks is a fleeting discomfort, but at that time it seemed like a monumental affliction added on to a difficult test of endurance.
There can be hidden blessings within our troubles.
Afflictions allow us to appreciate all that we take for granted. Think of all the comforts you enjoy every day. Now, if any one of these things were taken away for a week, imagine how much more you would appreciate each one. I never thought to be grateful for dry socks until I didn’t have any.
Suffering can increase empathy. Every time I read about an area that is flooded, I immediately think about how uncomfortable it must be for the victims. If wet socks are so uncomfortable, how much more miserable would it be to have all your clothes and everything else in your home be waterlogged!
Troubles, big or small, can teach us to depend on God. When our burdens get heavy, we look about for help. In our search for relief, we gain insights into the Lord and His love. As we seek wholeness, we discover Who holds us together. Let your mind percolate in all these revelations.
Aren’t all these blessings worth a little distress?
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