Looking to the Unseen {Be Encouraged with Kristina}

“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 4:14-16

As I was reading the bible the other day I came across these verses and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them ever since. This past week has been one full of not feeling well, missing my friends and family, work and just being overall very tired! When I read the words of this verse I was stuck with how often I am okay with focusing on the “transient” or the “seen” things when I have the opportunity to look past those things and focus on the “unseen” things that are eternal.

But, how do we go about looking to the things that are unseen? This is the question I was pondering on my way home from work today and I realized that usually what needs to be changed is my attitude or my focus. If I am focusing on myself and what I want, instead of on the Lord and what he is doing and has done for me, then I am looking to the things that are “seen” and that will pass away. But if I am focused on what God has done and will continue to do then I am “looking to the unseen”. That it is when it hit me – it has a lot to do with gratitude and taking time to recognize the blessings of the Lord.

I know we have talked about thankfulness a lot of the blog lately, but it is something that has been a recurring theme in my life. This past week I had the chance to either sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself that I was sick, alone and tired or I could sit and be thankful for everything that God has done in my life. Even though I missed my friends and family, I am so thankful for each of them and for the lasting, dare I even say, eternal impact that they have had one my life. Instead of complaining about being tired I could be thankful for the time I had to rest in the Lord and renew my mind with His promises. It was a seemingly small mental switch, but it had a HUGE impact on how I was feeling!

As I was again reading this passage this morning I noticed how the verse starts – “So we do not lose heart”. How encouraging is that!? To know that the Lord cares about our troubles enough to reassure us that our trails we go through on a daily basis are refining us, renewing us and better equipping us for the work He has for us to do. I hope that this week as you go trough you day to day, that God will show you how to look past the troubles of the day to the “unseen” blessings from His hand.