In universal obedience; in keeping all the commandments; in denying ourselves, and taking up our cross daily. These are the general means which God has ordained for our receiving his sanctifying grace. The particulars are, — prayer, searching the Scripture, communion, and fasting.

—John Wesley, Some Late Conversations, 8:286

Despite some who falsely claim otherwise, Scripture never says or promises us that living the Christian life will be easy, and Wesley would have agreed. But what in your life that is most valuable to you has ever come easily? I tend to assign little value to that in my life which I have gotten easily. What about you? Think on these things during this season of Lent. In doing so, you will begin to grapple with the economy of God’s Kingdom.