Seeing beyond the now

 "For which cause we faint not: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For this light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: 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. 2 For 4:16-18.

The normal way of our walk in Christ is opposition. Peter tells us that we should not think it strange that fiery trials come. There is opposition from the outside, and opposition from the inner thoughts. No disciple is exempt from the testing of their faith (James 1:2). As Oswald Chambers points out, the opposition we face is very much God's idea, for therein we learn the secret, which is "Christ in us, the hope of Glory". Abandoning all hope in our own resources, we turn to Christ to appropriate the victory which He has already won. This does NOT mean the trial will go away, but it DOES mean that we know that it doesn't matter. We win in the end. 

In the meantime, trial and testing will be our experience here on earth. Some wag said the only school he ever went to was the school of hard knocks! Well, I suppose that institution is one all disciples attend. But as we have fully put our full trust in Christ, battered we may be, but sink we will not. "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."