My wife and I don’t pray for a life of smooth sailing for our kids. Though I hope they can avoid some of the heartache we’ve endured, I also know the hope and fruit that suffering has produced in our lives and our marriage. We spend a lot of energy wishing the hard thing would go away, but an easier road doesn’t necessarily make us better. What if the obstacle in front of you is helping build the strength you’ll need for what comes next? Maybe what you really need isn’t an easier path, but stronger legs.