The apostle Paul who wrote this is probably one of the best examples of someone who looked beyond discouragement and refused to give in to despair.  For here Paul calls the overwhelming mental, physical, and spiritual distress he has endured as “light and momentary troubles.”  But how could he do this?  The answer is simple…he was allowing the Lord to renew and restore his mind daily…or as Colossians 3:10 tells us, “Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”  When we become discouraged, fearful, or overcome with the current troubles in the world today, we need to be reminded that as we go through all these hardships, they are achieving for us righteousness and eternal glory for His namesake.  Therefore, we do not lose heart.