In John Bunyan's classic allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress, Christian comes to Hill of Difficulty after he is released from his burden at the Cross. Christianity is not to be chosen if you are looking for an easy life. If you want to escape difficulties you might as well settle on the plains of Mediocrity. Bunyan reminds us that the only way we can be saved from Destruction, Vanity, or the Fiery Pits of eternal judgment, is to walk in the light of revealed truth and take the next challenge God puts before us, no matter how intimidating.

The Hill of Difficulty represents the tough consequences of pursuing the dream, obeying the Truth, and following the Master. Life is full of choices. The Plain of Ease awaits people such as Timorous, Mistrust, Formalist and Hypocrisy. The Hill of Difficulty is for those of the pilgrim spirit.

The word 'success' is related to the word 'succession' which means 'the act or process of following in order or sequence'. Success is not about attaining perfection. It is a positive response to the next challenge. Success involves a succession of steps; ongoing acts of obedience, faithfulness, and improvement. The Christian life is described as a sequence of steps known as a 'walk': Walk in the light; Walk in love; Walk in the truth.

'Failing' is an ingredient of both success and failure. Failing is an ingredient of failure if we quit. Thomas Edison saw every attempt that failed as an education for success. He said, "I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." Many fail by quitting after their last so-called 'success'. Theirs is the tragedy of arrested development.

Don't try to escape difficulty or danger. It is easy to go the way of the least resistance. The Hill of Difficulty tests and strengthens our faith and proves the reality of the spiritual resources we have in Christ. In Bunyan's words:

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend, The difficulty will not me offend; For I perceive the way of life lies here. Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear; Better, though difficult, the right way to go, Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

Put on earth, with you, to succeed,