Christian Hardship

Today the first reading sheds light on why we face difficulties: You must undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. And then the second reading shows us what we can hope for if endure those hardships: God will be with us always. He will wipe away every tear. There will be no more death, mourning, or pain.

Does it seem like your life is never-ending hardship? It does for me. Whenever I think I’m in a good place or coming out of a difficult period, another hardship walks into my life. The hardships and struggles just continue to come. 

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will always face hardship if I walk close to God. 

As a faithful person, I know that hardship is part of life. It’s part of the path leading to God and the eternal kingdom, which I desire more than the rewards of this life. It strengthens my endurance. It makes me persevere. 

Just read Acts of the Apostles this Easter season and it’s clear that while the Christian life has its joys, miracles, and marvels, but it also has plenty of hardship, persecution, and struggle. The early Apostles witness to that.

That’s why God gives us the hope in the second reading as a reminder that this life is passing fast and someday soon He will be with us always. The pain and tears of this world will subside and give way to a greater, never-ending joy. It won’t always be like this. Our hope lies in the next life.

Let’s keep that in the back of our minds if we’re struggling through a hardship (or many hardships) today.