That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

You think you have it tough? Consider the apostle Paul. According to his own account in 2 Cor 11:24-28, he had received 39 lashes five times, survived three shipwrecks, and encountered all sorts of dangers and trouble in travelling about the world telling people about Jesus. On top of that, he’s getting old and becoming more and more aware of his mortality. He knows that if shipwrecks and beatings don’t kill him, time eventually will. Nevertheless, he was still able to enjoy the hopeful perspective recounted above. Amazing! How was he able to do it? Simple. He was able to maintain a long distance perspective. He was able to focus on the promises of God beyond this life, and not be distracted by the trials of his day to day life.

I bet you do have it tough. We all do. Underneath the “I’m fine” face we put on in public most folks I meet have a laundry list of troubles; troubles that distract us from the hope we have in Jesus. Follow Paul’s advice. Fix your gaze on things that cannot be seen. The troubles you experience today will soon be gone, but persevering them in faith will result in a glory that is far greater than our troubles – a glory that will last forever.