For this slight momentary affliction

is preparing for us

an eternal weight of glory

     beyond all comparison,

because

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. 17-18

(Something profound

         is going on here,

His purposes prevail 

      beyond our comprehension.

"Follow Me deeper.")

We are afflicted 

         in every way,

    but not crushed;

perplexed,

but not driven to despair;

persecuted,

    but not forsaken;

struck down,

    but not destroyed

...so that

the life of Jesus

  may be manifested 

  in our mortal flesh.

        2 Corinthians 4. 8-9,11

(Something supernatural 

        is going on here,

something different

              is revealed,

and that is Jesus in me.

His Presence is revealed

       in unlikely places

and impossible situations.

Bring forth, O LORD,

clear evidence of Your hand,

    even in what I cannot see).

...and you show that
you are a letter from Christ
delivered by us,
written not with ink
but with the Spirit
        of the living God,
not on tablets of stone
but on tablets
     of human hearts.

          2 Corinthians 3. 3

(The powerful message
     of a transformed life.)

But thanks be to God,
Who in Christ always
     leads us in triumph,
and through us
     spreads the fragrance
of the knowledge of Him
                everywhere.
For we are
    the aroma of Christ...

          2. Corinthians 2. 14-15

(What lingers?
A sense of self
  or the presence of Christ?
Everywhere,
in all things,
every conversation,
every encounter,
every divine appointment.
Even in this).

For He will complete
  what He appoints for me,
and many such things
         are in His mind.

                  Job 23. 14

(The LORD has appointed you
   for many profound purposes,
both great and small.
Everything
done in His name
is significant beyond measure.
    Even that below the surface.
Align my heart to Yours,
                     O LORD).

Why, we felt like we had received

the sentence of death,

but that was

to make us rely 

not on ourselves

        but on God

Who raises the dead.

           2 Corinthians 1. 9

(What hard thing am I going through?

God has deeper purposes in it,

          and not just for me.

God will redeem 

in ways I cannot ever imagine.

Use it, O LORD,

  to draw me closer 

and point others to You).

I waited patiently for the LORD;
He inclined to me
     and heard my cry.
He drew me up
  from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust
               in the LORD.

               Psalm 40. 1-3

(How are you surviving,
   how are you thriving
through this impossible situation?
The song I am singing,
the song I am living:
"God is faithful.
        God is my strength."
You have been chosen for this,
   to bring Him glory,
for others to see that
your relationship with God is real,
not just another worldview
   or list of beliefs,
but a life-sustaining intimacy).

He uncovers the deeps
      out of darkness,
and brings deep darkness
           to light.

            Job 12. 22

(You, O LORD,
   lead me through,
even when
I don't understand).

But for You, O LORD,

      do I wait;

it is You,

  O LORD my God, 

who will answer.

          Psalm 38. 15

(God always responds,

never in singular outcomes,

always providing new vision

and aligning my heart to His.

Sometimes red light,

sometimes green light,

but always 

something deeper than that).

...Who does great things

and unsearchable,

marvelous things

     without number.

               Job 5. 9

(Beyond my comprehension.

Even in what

  He lays before me today.

Even in this 

      which I least expect,

woven seamlessly with

  God's profound surprises).

For you may be giving

     thanks enough,

but the other person

  is not being built up.

   1 Corinthians 14.17

(Am I thinking 

       about others,

or only myself in this?

Make me mindful,

O LORD,

for the wellbeing

of those around me,

being built up

          in You.

Not what's in it for me,

but what's in it

        through You?)

...on the very day

when the enemies of the Jews

hoped to gain mastery over them,

the reverse occurred.

              Esther 9.1

(When we are faithful to God

and seek Him through it 

    whatever it might be,

God redeems.

God can change 

       the course of history.

God can transform

   the course of my life).

      

And who knows
whether you have not come
to the kingdom
for such a time as this?

               Esther 4. 14

(Who knows?
      God does.
You are divinely appointed,
strategically placed by God,
even here,
even in this.
Nothing is insignificant
     in God's designs).

Do this

  in remembrance of Me.

              1 Corinthians 11. 24

(Whatever 

    God may place 

    before me today.

Even in this hard situation,

even with this difficult person.

Out of His love for me,

out of my love for Him.

Bring the love of Jesus there.

Not just mindful of Him,

but bearing the mind of Christ

              into it).

Say to my soul,
  "I am your deliverance!"

                    Psalm 35. 3

(There is nothing more
than the Adversary wants
than to persuade you
that you are a lost cause,
you are stuck,
there is no exit door.
Do I let fear and lies
          paralyze me?
Or do I seek
   the LORD in this,
His scarlet thread
    through the difficulty,
or in the midst of
what appears an impossible situation?
Most of the time,
His deliverance is not from,
   but through it,
right in the midst of it.
He meets you 
       at your point of need.
God gives His direction to go,
God gives His strength to endure,
God grants His peace
   in impossible situations).

...to praise 

   and to give thanks...

watch corresponding 

                  to watch.

                 Nehemiah 12. 24

(Round the clock

     in whatever I do,

not based 

   on favorable circumstances

but on who God is.

Intentional, continual,

          even in this?

Even in this.

A grateful heart verbalized

changes everything I see,

think, pray,

   and how I respond).

No temptation 

    has overtaken you

that is not common to man.

God is faithful,

and He will not let you

be tempted beyond your strength,

but with the temptation 

will also provide

       the way of escape,

that you may be able

to endure it.

               1 Corinthians 10. 13

(Seek God in this hard place.

You are not alone.

      God is working in you.

Am I willing to follow Him through it?

Look for the pass in the mountains,

    and God will redeem.

Even in this).

...but we endure anything

rather than put a obstacle

in the way 

      of the gospel of Christ.

           1 Corinthians 9. 12

(That hardship--

and how I respond to it--

may be exactly what brings

someone to Jesus.

When you least suspect,

others are watching you

--in the everyday details

   and in the crisis--

to see what is 

       most important to you

and that God is real.

Be assured.

God is using you in mighty ways.

Then God put it

      into my mind...

          Nehemiah 7. 5

("What made me think of that?"

When I seek the LORD

with a whole heart

    and a willing mind,

God makes me aware

of something completely different 

             on my radar.

What is Your way in this,

                  O God?

The ultimate outcome is

God's hand in this,

    His purposes unfolding).

After him

  their brethren repaired...

...next to him...

after him..,

    

       Nehemiah 3

(Obedience to God

produces a chain reaction.

My obedience,

my following after God

      in this and in that,

impacts the obedience

and the willingness of others.

"I could do that too.")

Now I was
   cupbearer to the king.

         Nehemiah 2. 1

(Where is God
       using you?
He works in incredible ways
    and improbable places.
God calls me
   to be faithful,
the most significant
            place of all).

But I trust in You,

          O LORD,

I say,

  "You are my God."

My times are

         in Your hand.

        Psalm 31. 14-15

(Even now,

even in this 

even when

I don't understand.)

...that we might humble ourselves
           before our God,
to seek from Him
a straight way for ourselves,
our children,
and all our goods.

                 Ezra 8. 21

(When I seek
    to align my heart to His,
God changes me
and influences
everyone around me
and all who
           come after me.
Everything I choose
directly impacts
       someone else.
What is God's way in this?)

O LORD,

I cried to You for help,

and You have healed me.

                    Psalm 30. 2

(It doesn't get any simpler

    than a cry for help.

It doesn't get more profound 

    than a changed heart.

God's way is not necessarily 

      a change in circumstances,

but a change in me.

The LORD is my strength,

        my deliverer,

and the healer of my soul).

And this was their reply to us:
"We are the servants of the God
        of heaven and earth..."

                          Ezra 5. 11

(Live in such a way
that others cannot help but ask
                "Why?"
And what is my response?
How do I choose to live differently
                    even in this,
                    even in grace?)
   

What no eye has seen,
nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived,
what God has prepared
    for those who love Him.

                  1 Coronthians 2. 9

(Don't underestimate
   God's work in your life)

Do not say,

   "I will repay evil;"

wait for the LORD,

and He will help you.

               Proverbs 20. 22

(Seeking His way in this,

changes my heart,

changes the conversation,

changes the outcome).

The LORD is my light
       and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is
    the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

                Psalm 27. 1

(Choose to seek God
       through this,
      instead of fear.
Choose to pursue it
    with God instead.
Anxiety only trips me up.)

Now to Him who is able
     to strengthen you...

                Romans 16. 25

(Operating under my own steam
     leads me only to despair.
God's strength
  overcomes what appears
  as impossible,
May I be faithful in whatever
He lays before me today.
God gives the strength,
more than enough.
        Remember that).

Be strong and of good courage.
Do not be afraid or dismayed
before the king of Assyria
and all the horde that is with him,
for there is One
         greater with us
         than with him.
With him is an arm of flesh,
but with us
       is the LORD our God,
to help us
and to fight our battles.

                2 Chronicles 32. 7-8

(Whatever I fear,
     both real and imagined,
the reality of God Almighty
           prevails over all.
He promises,
         "I am with you."
Take Him up on that.
Choose to pursue
this impossible situation
  with the Presence of God.
Not just a different mindset,
but a vastly changed outcome).

For Hezekiah prayed for them...

And the LORD heard Hezekiah,

     and healed the people.

                 2 Chronicles 30. 18, 20

(Have I prayed yet for them?

Heave I prayed about this?

Worry leads to despair,

but God changes everything.

Grant me Your mind in this,

                    O LORD).