"For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh 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." II Corinthians 4:17, 18 KJV

Keep in mind this is a comparative statement contrasting our light afflictions versus our eternal weight of glory, and in addition, the temporal versus the eternal. First, Paul, the writer, who was no stranger to serious suffering, contrasts "light afflictions" against the "weight of glory" that shall be ours in heaven. Second, the time frame of our afflictions is only for a "moment" (even if they should last a lifetime) compared with the duration of our glory which is "eternal." The things we can see are temporary; the things we cannot see are eternal. We are a work in progress, so welcome afflictions! They are “working for us."