It was a very difficult season.

As a young woman on the precipice of a divorce, I was very broken.

Years of feeling unseen, unloved, and unvalued left me internally fragile and vulnerable. It’s an emotionally raw place to find oneself. It’s even more dangerous when the enemy begins to exploit it.

Enter Dave. A neighbor, my age, who took an interest in me when I felt invisible.

He showed up when my kitchen sink needed fixed. He graciously provided a ride to the store when I needed groceries. He offered his kindness and friendship to me when I felt isolated and alone.

The emotional connection and attachment was fast and electric. I could feel myself “falling” for this guy.

But, my heart and mind knew that this relationship would never work in the long run. Dave and I were on two very different faith journeys.

What was deeply foundational to me – my relationship with God; a desire to grow in His Word; and a life daily surrendered to Him – was not important to Dave.

I was faced with the choice to entertain passing, temporary comfort and pleasure vs. God’s best for my life.

It was a tension I sat in for weeks.

I wish I could say the decision was easy, but it absolutely was not.

When I told Dave I could not see him anymore, he was confused and hurt. My apology felt trite. I felt shaky. But my decision was resolute.

I reached a point where I had my future in mind.

The enemy has had centuries to perfect his craft and hone his lies regarding the “passing pleasures of sin”.

And while the temptations are very real, they are not new.

Moses chose God’s plan over temporary pleasure and relief (Hebrews 11:25).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego opted for a momentary fiery furnace over worldly pressure and popularity (Daniel 3:16-28).

Jesus chose the agony and horror of the Cross over heavenly familiarity and ease (Matthew 27:27-50).

These decisions cost these men something in the here and now but they all understood the price of their future was worth it.

They, and so many other Christ-followers who have gone before us, knew that what they couldn’t see yet was vastly more important than what they could.

And, that’s what they embraced. That’s what strengthened them to make the hard temporary decisions. That’s what they had their eyes set on.

“Our momentary, light trouble produces for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond any comparison. We are not focusing on what is seen, but on what is not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17 & 18 EHV)

This truth is an anchor to our souls when the enemy is hurling lies and taunts our way.

This truth is a promise for our hearts when our flesh wants to yield.

This truth is a hope for our minds to cling to, even when it feels hard or futile.

If you find yourself struggling today, caught in the war between the temporary and eternal, I pray you would find fresh comfort in those verses above.

Make the choice today that your future self will thank you for.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!