Hardships are Necessary

I believe if you were to ask anyone who seems well-adjusted, doing well, and happy if everything in their lives has always been well and easy, I am sure they will tell you no.  It takes hard work to produce good results, in anything.  For a student, to get honestly good grades, one must study and work hard and diligently.  For a teacher, to be an effective instructor, one must do as much, if not more work than their students to prepare lessons and to love them well.  For a parent, to be a loving parent who does his best to provide for his family, he must maintain his career.  For an athlete, to play to win one must practice day in and day out, putting in sweat and tears.  All things worth doing are worth sacrificing for.  The struggles will be there, but if you keep in mind why you’re working so hard, those struggles will become opportunities to respond to grace and let God lead you.

St. Paul and Barnabas told the people who were struggling to remain faithful that “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”  For Christians that should be the ultimate goal and end - to be in Communion with God and to enter into the Kingdom of God.  We must keep this in the forefront of all that we do.  This is the prize on which our eyes must be fixed. Once we know that is what we are working for and towards, all of our actions will be ordered towards that goal.  We must also remember that this is not something we are doing on our own. We can’t.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us. 

I am sorry to tell you, but there will be difficult days ahead, I assure you.  But those difficult days will not be for nothing. It may be difficult to find meaning in those struggles when you’re in the midst of it, but have faith and know that those difficulties and struggles will only make you stronger, more prepared for what lies ahead.  Use those difficult days as opportunities to learn to trust in the Holy Spirit.  When time passes, you will look back, and you will come to appreciate those struggles because it will be those struggles that make the fruit and joy you will be experiencing sweet. 

Hang in there.  Persevere in grace. What’s worth doing demands sacrifice.  A life of joy requires hope and faith.  Joy is not where everyday is smiles and sunshine.  Joy is knowing that what you’re doing has meaning because of where you’re going.  The Kingdom of God must be the destination and goal.  It is indeed worth sacrificing for and working hard for.  This working hard is this: cooperate with grace.  Let God lead you to where He has planned for you.  It will be everything you can ever imagine and more.  God will give you all that you need for this journey.  Trust in Him. 

Father, I know that this life will have its struggles and challenges. Please give me the courage to trust in You that You will be with me, and will give me all the graces I need to handle those challenges. Teach me to never separate myself from you, for only You can lead me to where I truly want to go.  

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