Driving through Carey, Idaho, I was excited to take the familiar 100-mile shortcut to Boise.

Last year, during the emotional highs and lows of my son Cody’s illness, I found unexpected peace on this route. The drive through some of the most pristine farmland I’d ever seen stirred something deep within me. I remember thinking, If this beauty can bring such joy on earth—what must heaven be like?

Currently, I've been immersed in a powerful book called Imagine Heaven by John Burke. It reads like a novel, filled with stories of people who had near-death experiences and described glimpses of heaven. That book, combined with the peaceful drive, helped anchor my soul during a stormy season.

This year’s trip hadn’t started so peacefully. The days leading up to Boise were filled with frustrations—no water, a broken refrigerator, and relentless mosquito bites that nearly drove me mad. So when I finally hit open farmland again, I breathed a grateful sigh of relief. I needed this calm. I needed this reminder. Then came the real surprise.

At a one-day intensive business conference in Boise, I heard message after message—103 speakers in total—all echoing one theme: how to overcome hard.

It was as if God had curated the entire event just for me. I found myself wishing the whole world could hear what I was hearing. Because if we all learned how to overcome hard, wouldn’t life be more like that peaceful farmland drive? Wouldn’t it look a little more like heaven on earth?

Scripture confirms that hardship has purpose. Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) reminds us: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation… And this hope will not lead to disappointment."

I’ve long admired Kara Lawson, head coach of Duke’s Women’s Basketball. Her mantra sticks with me: “It will never get easier. What happens is you handle hard better.” That’s not just a pep talk—it’s a strategy for life.

At the conference, I learned that overcoming isn’t about trying harder. It’s about training deeper. It's about building systems—practical spiritual habits—that prepare you before the storm hits.

There are many such systems, but here are two to start with:

• Create a Faith Jar – When God brings you through something, write it down—on a stone, note, or card—and place it in a jar. Just like the Israelites in Joshua 4, these reminders become visible testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

• Build a “Hard Days” Worship Playlist – Fill it with songs that anchor your soul. Worship realigns your heart with God’s truth and changes the atmosphere instantly.

One song on my playlist? Whatever May Come by Jeremy and Adrienne Camp: "Whatever the pain, whatever may come, whatever may fall—Your love overcomes."

Hard may always be part of life—but peace can be, too. When we learn to handle hard better by building habits of faith, worship, and remembrance, we’re not just surviving—we're growing stronger, steadier, and closer to heaven in our hearts.

Maybe the farmland isn’t just a drive—it’s a picture of the peace God wants to grow within us, no matter what comes.