Walking in Victory Beyond Affliction

Welcome to our empowerment session for today! It has been a powerful week of seeking, learning, and growing. Has it not?

Today, we’re not just enduring affliction as the good Christians we are, but we are stepping boldly into the victory that Christ has secured for us. Amen?!

The Word of God reminds us that affliction is real, but we are also reminded that affliction is temporary. Victory, on the other hand, is eternal. Hallelujah.

Our main scripture is taken from 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NKJV): “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

A familiar passage of scripture from the Apostle Paul. It is a powerful reminder that what we go through is not the whole story. This what you’re seeing right here - me crying over the loss of a loved one, whether through death or separation, me having my car or house repossessed, this is not the whole story.

See, Paul doesn’t deny suffering. Some people go about pretending that everything is always A-OK. That’s all good if that’s what makes you float through the day. But what Paul did was to reframe suffering. It’s like taking lemon and making lemonade.

Paul calls suffering light and momentary when compared to the eternal glory it produces. It’s all about shifting our perspective. We spoke about that earlier this week.

Of course, this doesn't mean the pain you’re feeling isn’t real. What it does mean is that the pain does not have the final say; it doesn’t get the final word. Our current struggles are preparing us for something weightier, richer, and more glorious than we can imagine.

Consider Romans 8:18 (ESV): “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

That’s more consolation from The Word of God echoing the same truth. The glory ahead is not just compensation — it’s transformation. God uses affliction as a tool to shape us for eternity.

Let’s look at an often-overlooked scripture in Lamentations 3:31–33 (ESV): “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.”

Our great, kind and loving God does not delight in affliction. His compassions are many, and His love is abundant. Even in grief, He is working compassion into our lives.

In Psalm 34:19 (KJV), David declares: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

Again, we point out that affliction is part of the righteous walk, but so is deliverance. Notice the certainty: the Lord delivers out of them all. That’s a promise of victory, guaranteed.

And hear this Family: Victory isn’t just about the end of the battle — it’s about how we walk through it. The victory mindset means we don’t see ourselves as defeated or stuck, but as already victorious through Christ. 

Paul declares this boldly in Romans 8:37 (KJV): “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

So, we’re not just getting by — we’re overcoming with authority and strength that come from God’s love. 

Even in the Old Testament, God’s people were reminded of victory beyond affliction. 

Micah 7:8–9 (NIV) says: “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.”

That right there is a powerful confession: even in failure, darkness, or affliction, we rise again. Why? Because God pleads our case and brings us into the light. 

This brings me so much comfort. Why? Because when people overlook me, cast me aside, use me, and abuse me, I know that there is no failure in God. So I can walk with my head high, knowing my worth in Christ Jesus.

Isn’t it comforting to know that our God does not change? When God tells us He loves us, He will not decide 6 years later that He doesn’t love us anymore. Hallelujah.

Think about those who’ve gone before us — the early church, persecuted believers, modern-day martyrs — they endured suffering because they lived with eternity in view. 

Hebrews 11:35–38 (NIV) tells us: “There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection… They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword... The world was not worthy of them.”

These people did not suffer in vain. They saw something eternal. They walked in victory even while afflicted, because they believed in the glory ahead. That’s a word for somebody and I’m taking it too. There is glory ahead Angela. Hallelujah.

I have, you have, we have a great model in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even Jesus endured affliction with joy set before Him. 

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) says: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Family, Jesus endured because He saw beyond. We are called to fix our eyes the same way — not on the temporary, but on the eternal.

And let’s not forget what Jesus told His disciples in John 16:33 (NLT): “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Victory, Family, is not the absence of trouble — it’s confidence in Christ who has overcome every trouble on our behalf. So our lives may be a little chaotic right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t walk in victory. Come on, do it, let’s confuse the enemy. Hallelujah.

And as we walk in victory, here’s the declaration for today: “This affliction is temporary, but my victory in Christ is eternal!”

Remember, your story doesn’t end in suffering — it ends in glory. It ends in the presence of God, fully healed, fully seen, and fully victorious. 

Let us keep our eyes fixed on what is unseen. Keep walking in the promises. Keep pressing forward. Affliction may visit, but it does not define you. Victory does.

Stay strong, Family. Stay faithful, Family. And remember: God Is Greater than any affliction.  

aub - 2May25 

www.zjoyvi.com

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