God's Guarantee - Hard Times

“Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.” - Acts 14 v 22

Not really what we want to hear.
We would rather be mistaken for gods (v 15)
than be left for dead (v 19)
Some would even have us believe that going through hard times is always either an attack of the enemy or a punishment from God for wrong doing.
The former is possible whilst the latter is at odds with God's character.
But "hard times" automatically follow anyone following Jesus.