My word tells you that now you see in a glass darkly, but then face to face. This implies that there is a change coming in the way you see. Do you think this applies only to the way you see me? For the material world is visible to you, but I am not, at least not now. Yet have you ever met people and had the image you present interact with the image they present? This is hardly an authentic encounter. And so seeing in a glass darkly is not just the way you perceive the heavenly realm; it is the way you perceive everything. Yet even in this world he who is spiritual judges all things, and you can move toward seeing all things face to face. 

My word says that now you see in a glass darkly, but then you will see face to face. Do you assume that this statement applies only to the spiritual realm, which is veiled and invisible to you? Do you think your vision is perfectly clear in this material realm? Would you know if it were not? You are subject to assumptions, biases, distractions, prejudices and many other things that distort your vision. As a result there can be a large difference between your perception and reality of which you are usually unaware. So you see in a glass darkly even in this realm, but he who is spiritual judges all things and sees things clearly face to face in this world and the world to come. 

When you put money in the offering at church, is it added up to some total in the church office? Money all looks the same, but I made an observation about a poor widow who put a small amount in the offering at the temple, and said that she had given more than the big contributors because her giving was sacrificial and theirs was not. One dollar looks like another, but they are not equal in the offering because sacrifice is a more important concept than amount, and equal giving does not imply equal sacrifice. Let each one purpose in his heart how much to give, for each one answers to his own master. 

How do you respond to the difficulties in your life? Do you bear your cross and endure the thorn in your flesh in silence? Or do you complain about them? If you believe that they are given to you for a purpose, then it would be unseemly to complain about them. I want you to have a large enough perspective that you are aware of the means of grace in your life, even if they are deeply veiled. Then you can accept them rather than fighting against them, and they can accomplish their purpose without your opposition. You can bring glory to me by bearing your trials with grace and equanimity.