2 Corinthians 4:15-16

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
2 Corinthians 4:15-16


A lot of times in this life we feel like someone is picking on us, or our lives wouldn't be so hard. :)  but really... as this scripture explains... all things are for our sakes.  Life is this huge opportunity to learn.  Sometimes we get the lesson, sometimes we don't.  Sometimes we have to learn the same thing over and over again until we finally get it.  But see, none of that is a bad thing.  God knows us... he knows whether we are learning it or not.  He tailors the lessons to our individual capacities.  Usually the problem comes in when we think that we are weaker than we are.  God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle... sometimes of course, with a lot of his help.  But something comes along and we give up before we even try... or we make one lame attempt, and forget to call upon God's strength to help us.  I know, I do it all the time.
The thing is... we have infinite power to accomplish whatever we need to... to learn every lesson.  Amazing power within ourselves, that grows every day, at least in our ability to wield it... and any extra strength we need is from God.  Nothing can take that strength away from us, except our choice not to draw on it, or our ignorance of HOW to draw on it.
And then another reminder that the outward appearance isn't what matters... it's how beautiful and amazing we are inside.  Dream with me for a moment to the time after we die... and we "know as we are known" and everything is revealed.  Whether that happens through releasing our ability to read each other's minds, or seeing a movie of it all and having total recall... whatever it is (and who knows, I am just throwing things out, don't think I am trying to preach false doctrine) :) ... but seriously, however that happens... just imagine.  no-one will be able to look at someone and see the outside and not the inside anymore.  and I imagine, if we are all kind of shining, like God, or like Moses' face when he was in God's presence... that we'll all be beautiful on the outside as well.  I think the inside is going to be the determining factor there... and really, probably more fair, since on this earth (barring plastic surgery) you can do a lot more about the inside. :) ... unless of course, that increasing our stature one cubit thing works... hmmm. :)