In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that we will have tribulation in this world but also to "take heart for I have overcome the world."  False doctrines have led many in the Western Church to believe that we will never experience hardships, trials and tribulations if we have enough faith.  No where in scripture is this promised, in fact, just the opposite.  If our only reason for serving Jesus is to have an easy, prosperous life then our motives for being a Christian are born from selfish desires and false doctrine.