If we had the choice to live a life free from hardships, all of us would take that offer. But without hardships, we have no opportunity to grow and be an influence to others. Hardships are what produces overcomers. Hardships are necessary.

I would be lying if I said I got to where I am today from going through life in perfect conditions.

I went through many hardships and setbacks, and still am today.

But every testimony I’ve written started with a struggle. It’s through the struggles that I’ve been able to learn to depend on God and come out victorious.

I’m never the hero in my battles, it’s always God. Through my struggles, I have seen God’s strength and power more real in my life. No matter what battles I go through, I see them through the eyes of victory because I know God is for me.

God has already scheduled our victories even in the midst of our battles. 

Just as God is for me in my battles, He is also for you.

We can endure hardships with joy when we know that God is using them for our good and that victory is coming. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The hardships we go through may be painful, but the testimony that will stem from our problems will be greater than the pain.

God promises us in Romans 8:28 that in all things he works for our good. This means we should have no reason to be filled with fear because we know the end result will always be our victory.

Without trials and testings, we will never grow as Christians. The sign of a growing Christian is one whose faith is growing. Abraham is a perfect example of one whose faith grew. Romans 4:20 says, “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.”

Abraham had to go through impossible situations for his faith in God to grow. Abraham desired to have children but both him and Sarah were around 100 years old and past the capabilities of having children. However, God promised Abraham that he would have descendants as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).

While God did promise Abraham many descendants, he still allowed them to go through hardships. Genesis 16:1 says, “Sarah was not able to bear children.”

You might ask, “Why would God make it harder for them and not allow Sarah to have children right after making the promise to Abraham? Why did God make them go through such difficulty?”

God allowed Abraham and Sarah to go through what seemed impossible so that their faith would grow and see that nothing is impossible for God.

God too is taking you through the hardships so you can see that nothing is impossible for Him.

What difficulties is God taking you through today? Will you press through and trust that His promises for you are coming?

God is more interested in your growth than your comfort. He is a good father and like any good father, He allows us to go through difficulties as a discipline to strengthen us. Hebrews 12:7 says, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”

If you had a child, would you want them to skip the process of studying and just see them get an A? Of course not (at least I hope not). You would want your kids to learn through the process and earn the A.

Like any good parent, God too wants us to go through hardships to grow and learn. God doesn’t want us to skip the trials and tests of life and miss out on the opportunity to gain wisdom and understanding. He wants us to go through the process and come out stronger and victorious.

Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Will you trust God and His process?

We can enjoy the process when we know it’s for our good and our own maturing. James 1:2-4 reminds us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Hardships open the way for new strength and wisdom. Every hardship is an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser. 

We cannot be qualified to help others until we learn how to be overcomers in Christ.  God uses hardships to prepare us to be used to make a difference in someone else’s life. 

No matter what you are facing, know that you can come out victorious with Christ. God promises us that in all hardships we can be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37).

Every victory starts with a battle and every testimony starts with a struggle. So remember, hardships are necessary.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I can praise you through all hardships knowing that my victory is coming.