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. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Faith suffers…but it is nothing compared to the suffering of unbelief. Faith may endure hardship but it is accompanied by the promise of relief. I can endure almost anything when I know it is temporary. When I can see the finish line I am able to endure the race. Though pained, I press forward. I reach for the mark knowing the end is near. Hope is on the sideline assuring me that the glory of the finish line outweighs the momentary affliction of feeling like I can’t go on.
The suffering of unbelief has no such hope. Its companion is self-doubt that steals joy and robs strength. Unbelief separates me from Christ making me feel that I am alone in this marathon. Unbelief causes me to abandon my goal. Feeling inadequate, I stop running the race – forgetting that the race does not go away. I will have to face the race on another day. This “start and stop” pattern plants the seeds of defeat. Unbelief fosters the hopelessness that says, “Why bother…I know I won’t finish.”
In faith I may also experience seasons of “starting and stopping,” but the difference is in interpretation. Faith recognizes the exercise and views it like the repetitions used in weight lifting. It has no condemnation and is therefore able to pick up where it left off, recognizing that no ground has been lost. In the start cycle faith says, “Keep your eyes on the goal, take one step at a time. Move from our union and see that we can do this.” When I can go no further faith says, “Good job. Tomorrow we will do it again and joyfully add to the strength we gained today.” The sufferings of faith are never without comfort. It may not always be fun but it is always sustained by peace that passes all understanding. This peace is a companion until each temporary suffering comes to its end.
The suffering of unbelief blinds my union with Christ and pushes me towards self-effort. I am weakened thereby. The suffering of faith sharpens my awareness of Christ in me (as me) and renews my mind that I might cling to Christ who is my life. Faith knows He is all the while at work within me and is strengthened by that union awareness.
The awareness of my union with Christ is not without its struggle. It comes with practice. The old adage, “practice makes perfect” is relevant. Improvement comes with continuation. If I want to sing, dance, paint or fly, I have to keep singing, dancing, painting and flying. The ease comes with the doing. Perfecting occurs. There are days when I don’t want to sing, dance, paint or fly. No matter how badly I want to do it well, there are days I don’t want to do it at all. These are the days I press into faith and suffer through the lack of feeling until the feeling returns – however long that may take. This is the crisis of believing that all saints face. Obedience and disobedience are both habits – both perfected over time with practice!
Christ in me is the guarantee that I will do more than just “hear” His words to me. He is the Author and Finisher of my faith. He is the reason I eat and digest His words so that they become a part of me. His words become nourishment, strength, and personal identification through action. His impetus in me is the action that turns a stone into bread through the obedience of faith. To faith, obedience is inevitable.