And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. A true Christian life never grows easy, never becomes entirely agreeable to our natural tastes.
Every day is, in a certain sense, a crucifixion, a nailing of self on the cross.
But this very hardness is a means of grace. The cross lifts us upward. We grow under the burden of our daily duties and cares. So it comes that the things we would like to be freed from are the things we could least afford to lose. What we consider our disadvantages may really be our most indispensable advantages.