THE LIGHT AFFLICTION
"FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for a moment, IS WORKING FOR US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY."
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)
Apostle Paul referred to what they were passing through as a light affliction that would only be for a moment (2 Corinthians 4:17). You also should know that whatever you are passing through in a bid to fulfil your assignment should be seen as a light affliction, you should not magnify it whatsoever.
Paul also said, the affliction is working for him and his team as exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
The message in it is, you should not try to do things that are easy, be willing and ready to endure hard things, challenges that may come your way in the assignment given to you. That is, when the going gets tough and rough in the ministry work, stay put: "YOU THEREFORE MUST ENDURE HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST" (2 Timothy 2:3 NKJV).
The glory in the work of ministry exceeds whatever toughness or roughness you might be going through in the work presently, or the yet unseen challenges that may come your way (2 Corinthians 4:17).
This is the reason why Apostle Paul called whatever they were passing through a light affliction; because the glory in the ministry work outweighs whatever you suffer because of it, or whatever the effort you put into it (2 Corinthians 4:17). The grace is always more than the price you are required to pay!
You also should not bemoan your condition or allow any self-pity. The truth is that there are challenges which you are going to face in a bid to fulfil your assignment, but the sufficient grace is already given to you; you are not left alone to fend for yourself (John 14:16-18).
• You should count it as Joy when you find yourself in such trials or challenges or sufferings (James 1:2,3).
• You should also see it as a privilege to suffer for the purpose of the gospel—see it that you are partaking in the sufferings of Christ. You should, at all, not magnify the sufferings:
12 BELOVED, DO NOT THINK IT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED TO YOU; 13 BUT REJOICE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 IF YOU ARE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, BLESSED ARE YOU, FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS UPON YOU. ON THEIR PART HE IS BLASPHEMED, BUT ON YOUR PART HE IS GLORIFIED" (1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV).
• You should also not run or give up because of the challenges. Do not abandon or forsake the work and be looking for what else to do, in order to keep the body and soul together. In other words, do not leave the work or assignment given to you because you want to go and look for what to eat (1 Corinthians 6:13).
Quitting the work in order to look for what to eat would be like the selling of your birthright because of a morsel of meal (Hebrews 12:16,17).
This is not about those who work fully in the ministry alone, but, this is also applicable to whoever is doing one thing or the other in God's vineyard. You may be a lay-leader or worker in your local church, but you are having it rough in your secular work; that should not be a sufficient reason to quit working for God.
That might be a time of turbulence, a time to shake your nest and cause you to move forward, move to another phase or stage of your life, or another phase in your Christian journey or ministry life.
When you talk to God about the challenges, you would definitely be told by God of what to do and the way out of the roughness or toughness or difficulty:
"NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT" (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV).
You might have not seen the way out of the turbulence, however, there is surely a way out if you would allow God to wade in and lead you out of the wood.
I see you rising above that predicament in Jesus' mighty name. Peace!