Note 20 at 2 Cor. 4:18: As stated in the previous note at the previous verse, Paul reduced the impact of his afflictions by remembering that everything he suffered in this life was "but for a moment." In this verse, Paul makes it very clear how he accomplished this. He focused his attention on the invisible truths of the spiritual realm which were eternal, instead of the visible things of this physical world which are all passing away (Mk. 13:31; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Our emotions and attitudes follow what we think on (see note 10 at Mk. 6:52, p. 238). When we focus our attention on our problems, they get magnified out of proportion. When we neglect our problems and think on God's provision, the answer gets magnified and the problem shrinks (see note 5 at Rom. 16:19, p. 852). Whatever we think upon is going to dominate us.

If we think on depressing things, we'll be depressed. If we think on uplifting things, we'll be uplifted. If we think, "by His stripes, we were healed" (1 Pet. 2:24), we'll be healed (Rom. 8:6). If our thinking is sick, we'll be sick. The battle is for our minds.

Note 21 at 2 Cor. 4:18: The word "temporal" means "temporary." Anything problem that we can see is limited by time. It will pass. But spiritual truths, including our union with Christ and all the benefits that entails, are forever. When any problem begins to oppress you, tell it that it's only temporary and look to the future.

Today's English Version translates verse 18 this way, "For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever."