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Then the devotional contact today. Today' s Bible reading begins in the second

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verse of Corinth, chapter four.
Therefore, we do not faint before,

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although this, our outside man,
is wearing out. The interior, however,

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is renewed from day to day,
because this slight momentary tribulation produces in

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us an ever more excellent and eternal
weight of glory, not looking at the

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things that are seen, but at
the things that are not seen. For

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the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen

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are eternal. Yesterday we learned that
breaking is a tool that the Lord uses

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to mold us in his likeness.
His followers want this result, but the

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process is painful. That is why
the Lord gives encouragement in various ways.

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First, God disciplines with love,
just as parents redirect their children’ s

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behavior out of love. The heavenly
father has in mind the best for us

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when he corrects us. Second,
God gives us hope through his son.

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He does not want our suffering to
weaken us, but when it seems too

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much to bear, the promise of
eternity and the presence of Christ keep us

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from despair. Third, God brings
clarity through difficult times. As we learn

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that their ways are higher than ours, we better understand their amazing attributes.

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At the same time, our consciousness
begins to sharpen and old patterns of unproductive

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thinking begin to fade. Fourth,
God promises he will never abandon us.

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Brokenness can cause a sense of emptiness, but our father replaces it with his

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presence, as it is much more
enjoyable and reliable. Fifth, sir is

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patient. He knows our background and
our thinking patterns, but he also sees

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the end result and knows that experience
will be worth it. When faced with

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difficulties, remember God’ s promises
and keep your eyes fixed on the goal.

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He wants to help you reach your
full potential.