I’ve been making mountains out of molehills lately.
It’s not that the molehills aren’t there.
They are.
It’s that I’m considering them to be so much greater than they are.
There are things in life that are irritating, like a sliver that needles into your heart.
It grows to be uncomfortable.
Then it’s inflamed.
It becomes painful.
Unbearable.
Moments that are real and raw pile up and grow bigger, and bigger, and bigger.
In fact, the more I look at my suffering, it metastasizes.
The molehill that could be crushed by my foot has skyrocketed into a towering mountain.
All I can do is stare at the sheer face of the cliff and crumple in despair.
And then the Lord brings a verse to mind.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
Now, usually, I don’t try to measure my suffering against someone else’s. I’ve learned over the years that the Lord has made us differently with different paths and different loads to bear.
Yet, I can’t help comparing my suffering with the man who the Lord used to write this verse.
Paul’s suffering was physical, mental, and spiritual. He endured years of trials. Beatings, hunger, sleeplessness, shipwreck, betrayal, rejection, stoning… just to name a few. His suffering surely was greater than mine is.
Yet, through the Spirit, he can write that the sufferings of his present time were not worthy to be compared to glory.
Instead of focusing on the suffering, he focuses on the glory.
Paul’s not making a mountain out of a molehill.
He doesn’t even look at that molehill.
He looks up for the glory. The glory of God.
The glory of Christ which will be shared with us.
What a perspective!
With that outlook, I’m not making much of my suffering, but making much of my God!
It encourages me, even in my moments of hardship.
Because even though those moments are real, raw, and painful…
They aren’t to be compared with the glory that is to come.
So I’m taking my eyes off of the molehill.
I’m lifting my eyes off the horizon,
and up to Him.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4