A Taste of the Hard Life

A Taste of the Hard Life


“The God who gave you manna to eat in the wilderness—something your ancestors had never known—did it to give you a taste of the hard life, to test you, so that you would be prepared to live well in the days ahead.”(Deuteronomy 8:16, MSG)

A taste of the hard life is God’s way of preparing us for the good life. The wilderness is not punishment; it’s preparation. Every champion trains hard before the victory. In fact, the preparation is often tougher than the battle itself—so that when the real test comes, you’ve already outgrown its power to break you.

God uses hard seasons to toughen, refine, and equip us for greater things. Scripture says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” But if you endure, even when you stumble or fall, you grow stronger through every trial.

I remember, growing up, we used to say, “If you keep beating us, you’re only making us stronger.” It was the law of the street—and truly, every challenge we faced sharpened us. The depth of your preparation determines the height of the good life you will enjoy.

“Didn’t He set us on the road to life? Didn’t He keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires,
brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit,
road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back—
and finally, He brought us to a well-watered place.”
(Psalm 66:9–12, MSG)

The Apostle Paul echoed this truth when he said,

“These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times,
the lavish celebration prepared for us.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17, MSG)

So, brace yourself. The hard life is only for a while. After we have suffered a little, we will enter into the fullness of the Kingdom. The hard life is not the end—it’s the training ground for glory.

Reflection

Every hard season is part of God’s training program for a greater future. The wilderness is not meant to destroy us but to develop us. When we understand that, we stop complaining and start growing. Each challenge builds spiritual muscles for the good life God has prepared. Don’t despise the hard life—it’s proof that God is preparing you for more.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the hard seasons that shape my heart and strengthen my faith. Help me to see every challenge as preparation for the good You’ve planned. Give me grace to endure, wisdom to learn, and faith to trust that my “small potatoes” today are working for a greater glory tomorrow. Amen.

Have a fruitful day,
(Dr.) Emmanuel Okoro
(aka Dr. Lift) 

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