For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)
Nothing lasts forever on this Earth, not even our problems. Unfortunately, people who constantly focus on the negative often lose sight of that. As a result, they struggle with feeling hopeless and give up more easily.
It reminds me of an experiment that I read about. Scientists took several dogs and divided them into two groups. They placed one group in a cage with no escape route and the other bunch in a cage with a way out if they figured out how. Then they gave both groups mild electric shocks, just enough to annoy them.
The dogs with a way out quickly worked to escape and stayed normal and healthy. The ones without an escape began to get depressed, fearful and, after a while, showed complete hopelessness.
Next, they put both groups together in a cage with an escape hatch. The second batch of dogs found it right away and got out. The first group showing hopelessness earlier just lay down and allowed themselves to keep getting shocked.
People can get like that. If they get stuck in a situation where it seems they can’t win, they may begin to give up and accept it as their lot in life.
If this is a thought or attitude working to control you, don’t accept it. Whatever you’re facing is for a season and has a time limit—everything this side of Heaven does. Since it won’t be around forever, picture yourself victorious and enjoying life on the other side of it.
God’s Word and His promises last forever, not your problems. And that is encouraging and comforting news!
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