Jesus shot straight with people.  He didn’t soft sell the life to which He was calling them.  If you read through John 15-16 you’ll see that He told His disciples that they were going to have a very hard time.  He told them that people would persecute them and think that they were actually doing God a favor.  He warned them.

I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.  John 16:4a (NIV)

He didn’t promise them some sort of fantasy life.  He told them the truth.  By the way, He also told them that they would experience fruit and lasting joy and that they would be His friends.

We tend to gloss over the verses about pain in the Bible until we are in pain but you need to know that God never promised us lives free of problems.  In fact, Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles.  He also reminds us in the same verse that He has overcome the world!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NIV)

Jesus wasn’t some sort of conman that promises something and then delivers something else.  No, He gives us the whole truth and we can rely on His words.  We can also rely on Him.  He promised His disciples (and us) that He would always be with us…no matter what.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20b (NIV)

Remember, that’s the most important thing to keep in mind when going through any difficult situation.  God is with us!