Hardship is not pleasant. It creates discomfort in our lives. It inconveniences our plans. It discourages us, causing hesitation and inaction. Yet, properly understood, hardship is one of the most valuable opportunities in the Christian life. It helps us grow in faith, personal maturity, and intimacy with God. The opening verses of the 5th Chapter of Luke capture almost every important insight for understanding the value of hardship, if we are willing to allow it to form us:
[Jesus] saw two boats…the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats… he asked [Peter] to put