Short Season

Short Season

“Do not be afraid of the sufferings that are coming to you. Look, the devil will send some of you to prison to put you to the test, and you must face hardship for ten days.” (Revelation 2: 10)

How long did my desert experience last? Only two years. I can say “Only” today; but at the time, it seemed to go on forever. The Bible is right in saying that our tribulations and trials last for a short season. The fact that the trial is for a short period is often given as an encouragement for endurance. The following scriptures attest to this:

“Go, my people, go to your private room, shut yourselves in. Hide yourselves a little while until the retribution has passed.” (Isaiah 26: 20)

“In a flood of anger, for a moment I hid my face from you. But in everlasting love I have taken pity on you, says Yahweh, your redeemer. (Isaiah 5: 8)

“And if time had not been shortened, no human being would have survived; but shortened that time shall be, for the sake of those who are chosen.” (Matthew 24: 22)

“The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning for us forever an utterly incomparable, eternal weight of glory, since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible things are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4: 17)

“This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials; so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even though it has been tested by fire, may be proved.” (1 Peter 1: 6 – 7)

“The night is nearly over, daylight is on the way; so let us throw off everything that belongs to the darkness and equip ourselves for the light.” (Revelations 13: 12)