The definition of convenience is the state of being able to do something easily with little effort and no hindrances. So, a temporary inconvenience might be a situation where conditions are not ideal and enabling.

When hard times hit or in an inconvenient situation, you have to drag through opposition, setback, and challenges to achieve your objectives.

Consider Joseph’s pathway to the palace (pit-prison-palace). Think about the Israelite’s exodus before the Red Sea and their many battles to possess the promised land. Reflect on Jesus’ mission to save the world.

These instances all demonstrated grave inconvenience and fierce opposition regarding their objectives.

Consider also Elijah the Hebrew prophet, Nehemiah the wall builder, Paul the missionary, Peter the church leader, Martin Luther King Jr. the civil rights activist, Nelson Mandela the nationalist.

These individuals all found themselves frequently in inconvenient situations. It leads therefore to two conclusions.

The Purpose of Temporary Inconveniences

Firstly, temporary inconvenience owing to various causes will always be present. Secondly, most notable achievements occurred notwithstanding huge inconveniences. Hence, the inconvenience may be considered a prerequisite or stepping stone to significant accomplishments.

In fact, the more opposition to a goal achieved, the more glorious the achievement.

One other truth to realize is that each inconvenience is temporary. Once you sustain a level of consistent pursuit, you will have passed by the inconveniences before you know it.

Paul gives us a very important guide to navigating our way through inconvenient situations in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:15-18). He begins thus:

¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. ¹⁶ For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

He says he does not relent in his efforts because of our knowledge that glory awaits us at the end.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (v.17) Praise God!

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (v.18)

The attitude of the achiever will be to fix his gaze on the prize, and not on the opposition or inconvenient situations. You must push through to the prize of achieving your goals despite the inconveniences. Unless of course, you count your goals as being unimportant.

Think of what drove Jesus Christ to the cross.

He had his eyes on the crown: you! You were the crown He envisioned, for He was always the eternal King. “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrew 12.2)

He is set down for your sake.

Let the desire and passion you possess for the Advancing of God’s Kingdom, push you through your temporary inconvenience.

Whatever challenges, setbacks or opposition may come your way…

always remember, ‘this too shall pass!’