When things go wrong, one of our most natural human instincts is to run away or quit. In a world full of possibilities, it’s easy to wonder if a different path might be more successful—or at least a little less painful. Especially when we step into something new or risky, we’re often led to question ourselves: Did I make the right decision? Should I turn back? Is there a better way? Eventually, we’re tempted to give up.
But what if—on the other side of discomfort, pain, and suffering—there’s something better? What if the hardship you’re facing is shaping you into the person you hope to become? Maybe even helping you reflect Christ more clearly or become a more grounded, mature version of yourself?
We’re often told to be kind to ourselves and others, and that’s good and true. But sometimes, growth requires hardship. What if we began to see it not as something to escape, but as a kind of discipline? A refining fire, meant to strengthen us rather than destroy us?
Hebrews 12:11 states it this way: “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
The author acknowledges that hardship isn’t pleasant—but it’s necessary. Like ground that must be broken before it can bear fruit, our lives sometimes need to be disrupted to prepare us for what’s next.
So maybe, when the road is painful and quitting feels like the only option, the best way out… is actually through. Sometimes, there is no quitting, no turning around, no leaving, no adjusting course and there-go the only way or at least the best way out is through. We keep going forward. There are no regrets, only persevering forward into the unknown.