Then Vs Now

Having the Eternal Perspective When Life Hurts

Some days, life just feels too heavy. The things we thought we could handle start piling up—grief, stress, health problems, broken relationships, dreams that don’t work out the way we hoped. And in those moments, it’s easy to start asking, “Where is God in all of this?” or “Is this really how it’s going to be forever?”

But the truth is—this isn’t forever.

This Is Temporary, Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It

When you're in the middle of pain, it can feel like there’s no end in sight. But Scripture gently reminds us that what we’re going through now isn’t the whole story.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV)

“Light and momentary” might not be how we’d describe our struggles. But Paul wasn’t ignoring the pain—he had lived through more than most of us ever will. He was reminding us that compared to forever with Christ, even the hardest chapters of this life are just that: chapters. Not the whole book.

The Day Is Coming When It Will All Be Made Right

God doesn’t ask us to pretend the pain isn’t real. He promises that one day, it will be over—and not just gone, but healed.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...”
(Revelation 21:4, NIV)

It’s not a fairytale ending. It’s the future Jesus has promised. There will be a day when the tears stop, the anxiety fades, and the heartbreak is replaced with wholeness. And it’s not up to us to earn that day—it’s already been secured by Christ.

Even Jesus Endured, Because He Knew the Joy That Was Coming

Jesus isn’t far away from our suffering—He stepped into it Himself. He didn’t take the easy way out. He carried the weight of the cross because He knew what was waiting on the other side.

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross...”
(Hebrews 12:2, NIV)

He saw the other side of pain—and now He invites us to fix our eyes there, too. That doesn’t mean we won’t hurt. It just means our hurt won’t have the final word.

Shift Your Eyes, Even If It's Just a Little

It’s okay if all you can manage today is a whispered prayer or a deep breath while reminding yourself: This is not the end. You don’t have to fake a smile or pretend it’s easy. But what you can do is keep pointing your heart toward what’s eternal.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
(Colossians 3:2, NIV)

When we remember that this life isn’t all there is, something changes in us. We begin to care more about being faithful than being comfortable. We look for purpose even in the hard places. We start to breathe again, knowing that we’re headed somewhere far better.

You’re Not Alone, and You’re Not Forgotten

If life feels hard right now—you’re not broken, and you’re not failing. You're just human, walking through a broken world. But you're also loved by a God who sees you, walks with you, and promises to restore everything one day.

So hold on. Keep going. This isn’t the end of your story—eternity is. And it's going to be more beautiful than you can imagine.