No matter who you are, there are times in life when things get really tough and you want a way out. We have to remember we serve a God that is so faithful and good, that through every difficult trial, there is something good within. Not just in every season of our life are their hard things we go through, but there is also so much tension in our world today. What’s more, when the difficulties of life show up we crave explanation. We cannot help but search for meaning in the face of tragedy and pain. This inclination is part of what makes us, us. When we can’t find answers, we often come up with our own. And, if you’re like me, your answer is often not a good one. Consequently, our bad answers cause us to respond to pain in ways that can cause more pain to ourselves and others.
I also believe that the difficulties that happen in our life are by design. In his kindness, God has intentionally shaped the world in such a way that effort would be required to accomplish significant change, progress, and reward (2 Timothy 2:6). From the beginning, Adam is given a job to work the ground (Genesis 2:15) and to cultivate and shape creation. In other words, work showed up in the beginning. When embraced as a gift from God, work makes us stronger, more collaborative, smarter, more skilled, and so on.
In fact, there can be great joy in this aspect of the hardness of life because it matures us (James 1:2–4). Paul even writes that we should do whatever work we do as worship to the Lord and from the very center of who we are (Colossians 3:23). And so we should never pray away this type of difficulty; rather, we should embrace it, discern its purpose, look to Jesus, and pray to be made more like him through it all. Through many of life’s difficulties we are made more like Jesus. “We who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11).
I personally love this verse and rely on it when I am going through something where I do not see a breakthrough in the near future. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–10)
To me, I know that life brings trials and tribulations, but we do have a Hope. Our Hope is Jesus Christ. Remember that He is bigger than whatever situation you are going through, hard or easy. When you see no way remember: God’s past faithfulness, His love and purpose in suffering, and His promises of a future hope. 
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