Sooner Than You Think!

 Quick solutions have been around for hundreds of years.  They promise relief from physical or  emotional pain, or  appeal to our desire to improve our well-being in some fashion. But their consequences often come to light only when it’s too late for a change of course.When we are suffering or when we desire improvement, the temptation to reach for an easy answer is always there—but so is the long-term consequence of the decision, and it comes sooner than you think!

In the early days of the 20^th century, Radon was discovered in gas form and it seemed like a miracle drug. It promised shiny teeth and beautiful skin as well as an overall feeling of wellness when ingested in the form of tonic water,  bottled as “Radithor.”   Families purchased Radon products in other forms as well: toothpaste, face moisturizer, even suppositories.  It left teeth literally glowing in the dark and faces shining with youthfulness, all while keeping you regular!

It took the death of a well-known industrialist in 1932 to reveal the destructive nature of this miracle potion.  Ebon Byers was a believer in “Radithor,” drinking three glasses of the tonic daily. He was a healthy, robust man who appeared the picture of youth and vigor thanks to his regular partaking–until his jaw fell off! Death soon followed, with newspapers of the time highlighting the tragic story of Mr. Byers’  demise to the public. What had appeared as a quick cure and appearance enhancer brought long-term destruction to the user. Many more deaths would follow.

In our spiritual lives we can experience the same feelings of frustration or suffering  that we do in our physical bodies. And we often look for a miracle cure in much the same way. When we’re in the middle of trials or suffering, we can begin to feel like what we are experiencing in the present will never end. And like the medical cure-all that promised what it could not deliver, immediate relief from our pain appears the only option. But God sees our trials from His view of time …

These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!  So, we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.    Romans 8:18

We may not know how long we will experience a painful circumstance, face a disappointment we are powerless to change, or struggle spiritually as we try to grow in our faith, but we can trust that God has the best solution to our turmoil if we wait on Him in faith.  What joy we find when we trust that God keeps His promises of rich blessing and joys in heaven … Take courage, for the troubles will soon be over!

What trial or suffering are you facing right now that you feel may never end? How do the scripture verses above encourage you to wait on God and His timing rather than look for an easy solution?