If we had the choice to live life without hardships, I think most of us would take that offer. The pain and uncertainty we experience through hardships are definitely not desiring, but sometimes it’s only through hardships that God can be glorified. There is purpose in hardships.

I’ve been busy working on some projects that God has put in my heart which included starting a Christian clothing line. I started this project with the expectation that things would go well and smoothly, especially since God wanted me to do this in the first place.

However, unexpected issues would occur that were out of my control. I found myself complaining and ranting at God, saying things like “God, why would you make this so hard if you wanted me to do this in the first place?” 

But later that day I was convicted by the story of Mary and the birth of Jesus. As I was reading Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus, I was intrigued with Luke 2:7 which says, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.”

I was trying to imagine what Mary would have thought in her mind at that moment. If I was Mary, I would have complained to God and said, “Lord, you are the one who wanted me to bring Jesus to this world, why haven’t you prepared a room for us when you could easily have done so?” But it was in that moment when God showed me how faithful Mary was. She made the best of what she had and was faithful in serving God even in the midst of hardships.

God will only use people who will be faithful to him even in the midst of hardships We must be like Mary and remember that whatever God allows us to go through is for our best. God allows things to happen for His purpose, and most of the time it will involve us going through hardships.

God allows for hardships to happen because sometimes, it’s only through hardships that He can be glorified. 

Because Jesus was born in a manger, the shepherds were able to see Jesus and share of His glory to others. Luke 2:17-18 says, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”

The hardship that Mary experienced with having no room for Jesus to be born allowed the shepherds to find Jesus which led them to share of Gods glory to others. Just like Mary’s hardships, your hardships were made to glorify God.

God has a plan to use your hardship for His purpose. 

If you’re going through a rough time, don’t feel discouraged but know that God’s glory is always the end story of any hardship if you depend on God and obey His way. Be excited when life demands of your faith because you know God is about to do something great in your life. God would never let you go through a hardship to only bring you pain without purpose. 

Just as God used Mary’s hardship for His glory, He also plans to use our hardships for His glory. The pain you experience now is only temporarily, but if you persevere in the Lord, you will see God’s faithfulness.

Mary at the end was able to see the purpose of her hardships. Luke 2:19 says, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” It must have been a revealing moment for Mary to see how others marveled at the glory of Jesus. It was at that moment when Mary realized that all the hardships she went through were worth it. The hardships you experience now will not compare to the glory that is yet to come. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Stay rooted in the Lord as you go through your hardships and believe there is a purpose for it. Many of the mighty people God used in the bible had to go through hardships before seeing the glory and purpose of God revealed. Before Moses could bring the Israelites out from slavery from Egypt, he had to go through much hardship from Pharaoh who refused to let the Israelites go. But it was only through Pharaoh’s hardened heart that the freedom of the Israelites could be credited to the almighty power of God.

God wants you to show His mighty hand in your life, but that can only happen through trials and hardships. If life was perfect, we wouldn’t need God. But because life isn’t perfect, it gives us the opportunity to see God real in our lives.

Embrace your hardships and use it as an opportunity to draw you closer to God. In due time, you will see the purpose of God prevail. Romans 5:3-4 says, “..we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It’s through our hardships that we can see the power of God work in our lives, and it’s then that real hope becomes birthed within us. So remember, there is purpose in hardships.