Paul encouraged Timothy in II Timothy 2:3 “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus”. One of the many failures of American Christianity is that we fail to see ourselves as “soldiers of Christ Jesus.” Instead of viewing ourselves as “soldiers” on a warship, we envision ourselves as “passengers” on a cruise ship, who deserve pleasure and ease. Thus we are disappointed and dismayed whenever we experience hardship. But as Paul told Timothy later in this book, we should not be surprised at persecutions, for all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL be persecuted. (II Timothy 3:12) Warriors will experience conflict. Soldiers must endure hardship. Many of us need to change our expectations. This world is not our “retirement home”; it is our battlefield! Let us gird our minds to suffer hardships as good soldiers of Christ.