When I was a teenager, a Missionary in a church I was visiting gave me a tract entitled, "God Hath Not Promised." She gave me this tract to encourage me, because my mother had told me that I had better not go down to that particular church or she would kill me! This little tract carried me through some very rough days. It went something like this: God hath not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all our lives through. God hath not promised skies without rain, peace without sorrow, joy without pain. God hath not promised we shall not know toil and temptations, heartache, and woe. God hath not promised we shall not bear many a sorrow, many a care. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift, easy travel, needing no guide; Never a mountain, rocky and steep, Never a river turbid and deep. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labourer, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above, Unfailing kindness, undying love.
For those of us that are not satisfied with the status quo, I want to share the following with you; it might help you on your journey to reach your goals in the midst of hardships:
THERE IS NO SUCCESS WITHOUT HARDSHIP The world is so constructed that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures, you must also endure its pains. Like it or not, you cannot have one without the other. Success is not measured by what you accomplish. It's measured by the opposition you encounter, and the courage with which you maintain your struggle against the odds. You'll find all things are difficult before they are easy. The greater your obstacles, the more glory in overcoming them. So, make up your mind before you start that sacrifice is part of the package. No pain, no gain; No thorns, no throne; No cross, no crown. You've got to go through the negative before you get to the positive.
