“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, The Message).

The key to not giving up is to remember that what’s unseen is what matters, and what matters will last forever. All these hardships and struggles and suffering and pain have an expiration date. Some will end during your life time. Some will end when you die. But they all will end.

All that truly matters is eternal. Things like joy and hope and peace and love have no expiration date. When you hoped in Christ, those were yours forever. When you die, you take them with you.

All those things we obsess over will fade and decay. Things like money will rot and rust. Gold in heaven is what they use to pave the streets. The true currency of heaven is agape love.

So remember that when you’re tempted to quit. Everything you’re facing that brings you down and burdens you has already been overcome by the cross of Christ. The Bible calls them a light and momentary affliction compared to the eternal joy that’s coming. Without the perspective of eternity, those afflictions seem impossible and insurmountable. But in light of heaven, they don’t. In fact, in heaven you won’t remember any of them.

What you will remember is how Jesus led you all the way from start to finish. You will remember the joy that came in the midst of suffering, the peace that came in the midst of pain, and the love that overcame every obstacle.