"Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God'" (Ac.14:22). Have you thought that warning them about coming troubles is meant to strengthen and encourage them? But the apostles were realistic. They knew that this world was going to be full of trouble (Jn.16:33) and they didn't want the disciples to be unprepared. They didn't want the people to 'come to Jesus' looking for a life of comfort and fun and possibly turn away in shock when trouble hit them.
The New Testament is full of warnings. There are warnings about our fallen nature, there are warnings against temptations, there are warnings on getting deceived, there are warnings of Satan's schemes against the children of God. These warnings are to point out the dangers ahead and to tell us how terrible it will be if we go ahead and ignore them. But yet, how often do you hear preachers give these warnings? You just have to scan the internet to see that a whole lot of preachers are preaching only about the good and great things to come. They seem to be exalting the grace and power of Jesus when they tell you strongholds are going to be broken, your troubles are going to vanish, money is going to pour in, everything you do is going to succeed, dream big and see your dreams coming true 'beyond your asking or thinking', etc. But they are proclaiming a false gospel and even a false Jesus even though some of them are well-meaning. The problem is that 'when the rubber hits the road' – when the reality of life confronts the people – there are crashes and broken dreams.
Some preachers hold up Jesus as the One who will remove all problems, heal all their diseases, take them to heaven, etc., when they preach the Gospel. Just as crowds followed Jesus to experience His miracles, many flock to such meetings, only to be disappointed later. Jesus knew what was happening and told the crowds to their face that they should instead seek the 'food which endures to eternal life' (Jn.6:26,27).
How many preachers have you heard telling you that if you have become a 'believer' in Jesus you should now learn to become a 'disciple' who denies himself when he has to choose between his will and the will of God, takes up his cross daily to be crucified on it as a living sacrifice before God and follows the life and teachings of Jesus (Lk.9:23;Ro.12:1)? How many tell you, following the words of Jesus, not to look for a life of comfort here but to cooperate with Him as He seeks to set you free from the power of sin even in your innermost being (Mt.1:21;Ps.51:6)?
Even now, the world has become so callous regarding sin and morality and it is influencing the people of God also to compromise more than ever before. Certainly, the pressures against us are great, but our God is greater. But the truth of God is still available to those who want it. Seek and we can find, even now.