Let me go out on a limb for a moment. Your life isn’t totally ideal right now. Am I right? I get it. A global pandemic isn’t really a fun factory.

That’s why I’m here to tell you some good news: The current chapter of your story isn’t the final chapter of your story.

Hardship. Will. Pass.

It’s the reason Paul can say this: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

When I was young I remember my parents driving me to a hockey tournament in America. (I live in Canada.) I was so excited. I got to play hockey, stay in a hotel (with a pool) and go to McDonald’s all in one weekend!

But after we crossed the border, the first neighbourhood we saw was really rough. Some of the windows in the houses were boarded over and there were potholes in the streets.

“Are we there?” I asked. “Nope, just passing through!” I was so glad for that answer. Our destination was still an hour down the road and was going to be WAAYYY better!

And so is ours. We’re just passing through these trials. They’re temporary. Our destination is going to be WAAYYY better!

The current chapter of your story isn’t the final chapter of your story.

Hold fast. Persevere. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

By Matthew Ruttan

–Blog: “Your mental health—now more than ever.” I think that people are experiencing more mental strain than they think they are, and certainty more than they’re used to. As a pastor, here’s what I think can help.

–This Sunday, May 3rd at Westminster I’ll be teaching from James 1 about how hardship can make you more resilient.

–“Up!” is published 5 days a week (Monday – Friday) and will return on May 4.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.