Being a Christian is Easy???

So when did we as a society start to believe that being a Christian is always easy. Yes, being a Christian if a joy filled life but sometimes we have sorrow as well. I have really been thinking about this a lot lately especially yesterday due to various things happening to people that are really close to me. If things were always easy would we hit our knees as much? Would we have conversations with our Savior as much? Would we think we could do it all ourselves?? Maybe that is the point and to be honest I mean on those days when I think I cannot do this all I have to do is think of Jesus, precious Jesus, walking up that hill carrying MY CROSS, not his own, not carrying his cross because he ever did anything wrong. NO, Jesus was sinless, pure, without blemish and yet he carried that cross and DIED a painful, horrible death so that I may live one day in paradise. So as a Christian no things will not always be easy and we were NEVER promised it would be. There are verse after verse in the bible about enduring hardships.
-Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (Hebrews 12:7)
-Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
But as Christians we have the joy of knowing that we do not have to face our trials alone. We may not have been promised things would always be easy but we have been promised God is always there!!! What joy we can find in knowing that! What a great gift to know we do not have to face things alone and what joy in knowing when our lives on earth are over that really our life is just beginning.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
****I think this is one of the biggest things I want to teach my children is that following the Lord is not always easy, not always popular, and not always fun BUT following the Lord you will find so much JOY and so many blessings. Our children have saw us go through trials and sometimes I wonder if I handle them right. If they really learned from it what I want them to. Because my faith has been shaken at times , I am not perfect. Nobody on earth is perfect but there was someone that walked the earth that was perfect and He is our hope, our refuge in times of hardships. So I know that even though I am not perfect one day through Jesus Christ I will be. And that makes me know in this I can face tomorrow.
___If you do not know the Lord please know that only in Jesus Christ you can be saved. Ask Him in your heart today and LIVE for him. I was letting life past me by many years due to trying to find something to fill the void in my life that ONLY Jesus can fill. I pray whoever reads this will find encouragement, hope, and joy.