Our light affliction...

2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

How could Paul claim that our affliction is light? Is not that offensive to the Corinthian church, and those in the church going through difficult trials? How can he say the affliction is light? He said OUR affliction, so he includes his own trials. But looking at Paul’s life from a distance, his trials seem far away from light. He had been in prison, whipped, faced death, beaten with rods etc.

Paul gives them three reasons why he can claim their affliction is light:

1)   Its but for a moment.
It will not last forever. We are only walking THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. We are not settling down. We shall come out of this

2)   It’s working for us.
Everything works together for the good to them that love God. Whatever we face and go through, God will somehow turn it around and bless us in the end. He will make it work for us, and benefit us.

3)   We have an exceeding and eternal weight of glory waiting for us.
If you put all the weight of your pain, grief, and struggle on one side of the scale, and the weight of your eternal glory on the other side, you will see that your affliction is light, and not heavy