Living in the Kingdom definitely is a different life than living like everyone else lives. It is challenging and the reason it is, is the enemy. As soon as we decide to live God’s way, he comes against us to try and stop us because the rewards of living God’s way are tremendous!
James 1:9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God] AMPC
At first, God’s way may seem like a less than life but that is because of the transition you're making. The transition is difficult to begin, but once you start to taste that good life ahead, it gets easier.
The transition from your old life to the new is selling all your stuff and getting new. That is exactly what is happening when you begin to rely on God you stop relying on you. You opt out of the old life and link into the new. It is a transition of learning a whole new way to live; coming out from the world's way and now living God’s way.
Jesus referenced this new life as the narrow path because the transition has some pressure on it. That pressure is the thoughts the enemy tries to constrict you with. What if this doesn't work, what if I made the wrong choice and God doesn't do what I thought He said He would? That is where most turn off the narrow path. But if they would stay on it in faith, that path would lead them in the right direction —to eternal life.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. AMPC
Satan is trying to keep us on the wide path because that is his path, his deceptive path that leads to destruction.
The reason he makes it seem so hard, is because he uses the crowd to persecute you. Everyone has an opinion and they like to give it to you. They think you should be doing life like they do life. That is why the disciples denied Jesus, they were afraid of the crowd.
Are you going to ignore Jesus because of what someone might say or think of you? Or are you going to acknowledge Jesus on that narrow path? Are you going to do His will or are you going to ignore what He said to do?
The thing the enemy does not want you to know is how very blessed you will be when you stay on that path. Getting on the narrow path may have some persecutions on it, but it has blessings as well.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. AMPC
There is definitely some persecution on that path but when we press through, it will all be worth it to be that overcomer we need to be. If you want to live with Jesus forever you have to learn to depend on Him, He is the highest way to live. It may not seem so now, but know that now is temporary. It may not seem the most popular thing to do since you can’t see anything happening, but know this—that what you see with your eyes is temporary, and what you can't see (your faith) is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 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. AMPC
You don't want to live temporarily, but for eternity. The only way that is possible is to stay on the narrow path. When you live life on the narrow path you will get to know Jesus and then on that day, He won't say He didn't know you. But He will acknowledge you as you did Him!
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. AMPC