By: Apostle Steve Lyston

Everyone wants to succeed and prosper!  But not many are willing to qualify for that success!  Hardship is the number one criteria. 

You may, for example, be told by your bank or financial institution when you are going through hard times, to write a Hardship Letter indicating the measure of difficulty you are having which hinders you from meeting your monthly, financial obligations!  Don’t be ashamed to do so, because the hardship you are enduring is maturing, processing and will ultimately promote you.  Each time you go through hardship, you come out wiser, brighter and better!

It is not wise to follow a leader, in any area, who has not been through hardship.  Hardship increases your wisdom, knowledge and understanding as well as your faith in God.  The best resume one can possess, is what they have been through and overcome. 

There are many people who will speak on issues, and have been placed in authority within an organization or a nation, but the question is, ‘Do they have the necessary experience that will help them to do the job right?’ How about this!  ‘Do the pastors, bosses, bankers and financial leaders know what it is to go to bed hungry and not know where the next meal is coming from?’ ‘Do the bankers know what it is when you need to make a payroll and not have any money at all to do so, and no overdraft facility?’ ‘Have business and national leaders ever had to look at their children and tell them it is not their turn to eat today?’  If you have been through any of these situations, or any truly difficult circumstance, then greatness is coming out of you!

Hardship gives you a testimony, and it can be used as a weapon that will demoralize and defeat your enemy. (Revelation 12: 11)  Also, each time you come out of hardship, that experience makes you richer and wealthier spiritually, and gives you greater insight, ideas and solutions.

Hardship And The Mind

Hardship renews your mindset.  Each of our mindsets must be renewed on a daily basis.  There are different mindsets that hinder you from walking into greatness and realizing your true potential!

These are the mindsets that are hindering the growth, change and reformation within a nation.

Logical Mind

Analytical Mind

Political Mind

Religious Mind

You cannot analyze or reason faith!  The reason individuals and nations are not getting the change they require is that how they think remains the same at all times.  So, before your circumstances, environment and situation change, your mindset must change! 

One of the reasons God allows some persons to go through hardship is that He wants their way of thinking and their views to change. 

Some people would never change or even lobby for a positive change to take place if they didn’t go through it themselves!  (There are some interesting times ahead!)  Hardship opens your eyes to view others differently.  For example, have you ever known of anyone who would fight people tooth and nail for a position or promotion, but as soon as hardship reaches them, their very actions and heart change?

Hardship is not an indication of failure, but of the coming success!  Don’t be mistaken, hardship can also be as a result of disobedience.  Nevertheless, hardship can be one of the best trainers you can have.

You may be going through hardship and it feels like everything is being stripped from you on the outside, but God is doing a greater work and you have been increasing on the inside!  You are better qualified, wiser, stronger and on your way to greater!