Do you have conversations with yourself?
I do.
Mine from this morning went something like this:
“It’s cold, ma’am!”
“Really? (sarcastically) I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t brought it to my attention.”
It is cold outside. It’s -7º right now and supposed to drop lower before the sun comes up. Then today, we’re not even supposed to get above 0º. The weather people say that it’s the coldest snap over the area since 1983.
Of course, I zeroed in on the choice of the word “snap.”
Why do weather people use the word “snap?” According to the dictionary, this shouldn’t be an appropriate use of this word. I understand what they’re saying, but 36 hours straight of below zero temperatures is not a “snap.” It doesn’t go quickly - at least not while you’re experiencing it!
But these considerations led me around to one of my favorite verses:
These light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17
I’m always amazed at Paul’s description of “light and momentary troubles” when I consider his life of beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, left for dead, revilings, persecutions, imprisonment, etc. (2 Corinthians 11:23-29) And yet, he considered all of these troubles as light and momentary. In Philippians 3:8, he calls whatever he has lost dung, not worth considering compared with knowing Christ. That’s incredible perspective!
It helps me to frame my present circumstances.
Yes, it’s cold outside. But that’s not where I am. I am inside, with a blazing fire in the wood-burning stove. I have enough to eat. I don’t have to get out today. I can blissfully stay inside all day long! None of my family has to go outside today. We are all safe. We’re all healthy. We’ve enough to eat. We really want for nothing.
Sometimes it’s a good thing to consider how very blessed I really am. And the revised conversation in my head goes something like this:
“It’s cold outside, ma’am.”
“Yes, it is. Praise God I’m inside.”
“Praise God for the many blessings He’s given to me this day.”
Amen!
I do.
Mine from this morning went something like this:
“It’s cold, ma’am!”
“Really? (sarcastically) I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t brought it to my attention.”
It is cold outside. It’s -7º right now and supposed to drop lower before the sun comes up. Then today, we’re not even supposed to get above 0º. The weather people say that it’s the coldest snap over the area since 1983.
Of course, I zeroed in on the choice of the word “snap.”
Why do weather people use the word “snap?” According to the dictionary, this shouldn’t be an appropriate use of this word. I understand what they’re saying, but 36 hours straight of below zero temperatures is not a “snap.” It doesn’t go quickly - at least not while you’re experiencing it!
But these considerations led me around to one of my favorite verses:
These light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17
I’m always amazed at Paul’s description of “light and momentary troubles” when I consider his life of beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, left for dead, revilings, persecutions, imprisonment, etc. (2 Corinthians 11:23-29) And yet, he considered all of these troubles as light and momentary. In Philippians 3:8, he calls whatever he has lost dung, not worth considering compared with knowing Christ. That’s incredible perspective!
It helps me to frame my present circumstances.
Yes, it’s cold outside. But that’s not where I am. I am inside, with a blazing fire in the wood-burning stove. I have enough to eat. I don’t have to get out today. I can blissfully stay inside all day long! None of my family has to go outside today. We are all safe. We’re all healthy. We’ve enough to eat. We really want for nothing.
Sometimes it’s a good thing to consider how very blessed I really am. And the revised conversation in my head goes something like this:
“It’s cold outside, ma’am.”
“Yes, it is. Praise God I’m inside.”
“Praise God for the many blessings He’s given to me this day.”
Amen!
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