By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Thrive News Co.Thrive News Co.
0

No products in the cart.

Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • About
  • Church
    ChurchShow More
    A street preacher was arrested for sharing the Gospel near Broadway—but a judge’s swift dismissal of the case is being hailed as a First Amendment win and a warning to cities targeting evangelists.
    NYC Judge Dismisses Charges Against Street Preacher in Win for Religious Liberty
    May 30, 2025
    gospel-conference
    Europe’s Largest Evangelism Gathering in 25 Years Set to Ignite Berlin
    May 27, 2025
    american-faith
    Faith Under Fire: The Battle for Christian Expression in America
    May 23, 2025
    jewish-museum-washington
    Antisemitic Shooting in DC Claims Lives of Two Israeli Embassy Staffers
    May 22, 2025
    gen-z-study-barna-gloo
    New Report: Gen Z Struggles with Loneliness and Anxiety, Craves Real Connection
    May 20, 2025
  • Media
    MediaShow More
    fake-news-issues
    Truth Hijacked: How Fake News and Political Bias Corrupted the Press
    April 30, 2025
    karoline-leavitt
    Karoline Leavitt Ignores Reporters Who Put This In Their Email Signature
    April 13, 2025
    The King of Kings, an animated biblical epic, sets a record with $14.6M in presales, poised to surpass The Prince of Egypt as the biggest opening for an animated biblical film. Featuring Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, and Oscar Isaac, it opens in 3,200+ theaters this Friday.
    ‘The King of Kings’ Poised to Break Records as Biggest Animated Biblical Film Opening Ever
    April 11, 2025
    A 2025 NCRI report examines the rise of "assassination culture" in the U.S., with survey data showing 31% and 38% of respondents justify murdering Elon Musk and Donald Trump, respectively. Explore the findings on normalized political violence.
    The Abhorrent Rise of Assassination Culture: An Indictment of Moral Depravity
    April 11, 2025
    Celebrate Easter with American Idol’s April 20 'Songs of Faith' special, featuring CeCe Winans, Brandon Lake, and more. Don’t miss this 3-hour worship night!
    ‘American Idol’ to Celebrate Easter with a Worship Night Special
    April 9, 2025
  • Government
    GovernmentShow More
    pete-hegseth-prayer
    Pentagon Hosts Christian Prayer Service Led by Defense Secretary Hegseth
    May 23, 2025
    215-214-big-beautiful-bill
    House Passes Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” in Narrow 215-214 Vote
    May 23, 2025
    trump-south-african-genocide
    Trump Confronts South African President Over White Farmer Killings: “This Is Genocide”
    May 22, 2025
    golden-dome-trump
    Trump, Hegseth Unveil $175B ‘Golden Dome’ to Shield U.S. Homeland: “Made in the USA”
    May 21, 2025
    joe-biden-cancer
    Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis: A Call to Walk in the Light
    May 19, 2025
  • Arts
    • Sports
    ArtsShow More
    Comedian Russell Brand, recently vocal about his Christian faith, faces rape and sexual assault charges tied to alleged incidents from 1999-2005. Get the latest on the case.
    Russell Brand Charged with Sexual Crimes Amid Public Faith Journey
    April 4, 2025
    Disney’s 2025 Snow White remake, with Rachel Zegler as a self-reliant heroine and CGI-rendered magical creatures replacing the dwarfs, stumbles into a “woke” wilderness. Explore its weak box office debut and the backlash over abandoning the classic’s charm.
    Disney’s Snow White Remake: A Woke Detour from its Original Storyline
    March 23, 2025
    Dayne Kamela
    Dayne Kamela, Founder of Litwithprayer, Shares How Prayer Transforms Mental Health
    March 21, 2025
    house-of-david
    House of David: 5 Takeaways for Believers Reflecting on David’s Life
    March 20, 2025
    house-of-david
    ‘House of David’ Surges to #2 on Prime Video as Episode 4 Drops This Thursday
    March 4, 2025
  • Education
    EducationShow More
    graduation-speech
    Valedictorian’s Faith-Filled Speech Triumphs Over Censorship Attempt
    May 28, 2025
    harvard
    DHS Revokes Harvard’s Ability To Host Foreign Students
    May 23, 2025
    oklahoma-schools-supreme-court
    Supreme Court Blocks Oklahoma’s Taxpayer-Funded Religious Charter School
    May 22, 2025
    grand-canyon-university
    Grand Canyon University Cleared of $37.7M Fine by Education Department
    May 19, 2025
    The U.S. Supreme Court appears to favor religious freedom in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, a case that could establish the nation’s first religious charter school. Explore the clash between the First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses.
    SCOTUS Leans Toward Religious Freedom in Charter School Case
    May 1, 2025
  • Family
    FamilyShow More
    boys-to-men
    Raising Sons Who Won’t Be Swept Away: Forming Character in a Changing World
    May 24, 2025
    medical-gender-transition-crack-down
    FTC Weighs Legal Action Against Physicians Involved in Youth Gender Transitions
    May 22, 2025
    ashley-pardo-parenting
    Why Would a Parent Knowingly Help Her Son With Preparing for a Violent Act?
    May 16, 2025
    trafficking-hub
    Takedown: One Woman’s Fight to Expose Dark Web Secrets
    May 15, 2025
    abortion-pill-reversal
    California’s Censorship of Pro-Life Speech at Pregnancy Centers
    May 15, 2025
  • More
    • Podcast
    • Advertising
    • Agency
    • Invest
  • Listings
    • Business Directory
    • Add Listing
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
Reading: Don’t Rob Your Family of the Gift of Discomfort
Share
Font ResizerAa
Thrive News Co.Thrive News Co.
0
  • Home
  • Church
  • Media
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Church
    • Media
    • Sports
    • Education
    • Family
    • Movies
    • Business
  • Join Us
  • Advertising
  • Directory
  • Donate
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Search Home
  • Search Result
  • All Listings
  • Single Category
  • Single Location
  • Single Tag
  • Author Profile
  • Dashboard
  • Registration
  • Login
  • Checkout
  • Payment Receipt
  • Transaction Failure
  • Job Apply Form
  • Select Your Plan
  • Messaging Terms & Conditions
  • Sign up free!
  • Directory Checkout
  • Advertising
  • News Summary
  • Christian News Feed
  • Sign In
  • Sign In
  • Sign In
  • Refund and Returns Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
© 2024 THRIVE! News Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
Thrive News Co. > Blog > Family > Don’t Rob Your Family of the Gift of Discomfort
Family

Don’t Rob Your Family of the Gift of Discomfort

Mark Hancock
Last updated: January 4, 2025 8:46 pm
By Mark Hancock 7 Min Read
Share
two man hiking on snow mountain
Photo by Flo Maderebner on Pexels.com
SHARE

Rediscovering Growth: How Embracing Discomfort Can Transform Families and Shape the Next Generation in 2025

 

As we step into a new year filled with resolutions and aspirations, consider this: what if the key to growth — for families and our sons — lies not in comfort, but in challenge? I recently stumbled across this quote in a newsletter shared with me: “How did I end up in the middle of Iceland with two sons and a bag of freeze-dried reindeer soup in my backpack?” a Trail Life dad mused. “Let’s start with the obvious — the boys in our Troop are ambitious, and the leaders are crazy.” But perhaps we all need a bit of that craziness to truly grow in 2025.

Contents
Rediscovering Growth: How Embracing Discomfort Can Transform Families and Shape the Next Generation in 2025Iceland Hike Turning the Tide in 2025Start Here

Read More

boys-to-men
Raising Sons Who Won’t Be Swept Away: Forming Character in a Changing World
FTC Weighs Legal Action Against Physicians Involved in Youth Gender Transitions
Why Would a Parent Knowingly Help Her Son With Preparing for a Violent Act?
Takedown: One Woman’s Fight to Expose Dark Web Secrets
California’s Censorship of Pro-Life Speech at Pregnancy Centers

In an era of instant gratification, where every need can be met with the swipe of a screen, we’ve created a world where adversity is avoided at all costs. Yet it is adversity — not ease — that forges the virtues we most admire: courage, resilience and integrity. The new year offers a chance to reverse this trend and embrace the discomfort that shapes us — and our sons — into something stronger.

Iceland Hike 

 

This summer, a group of young men and adult leaders from Trail Life Troop VA-1804 set out to cross Iceland’s vast interior — on foot. Over ten grueling days, they braved glacial rivers, volcanic deserts and unpredictable weather, carrying only what they could fit in their backpacks. It was a test of endurance, resilience and grit. Yet, amid the rugged beauty and relentless challenge, something extraordinary happened: they bonded. They laughed, encouraged one another and shouldered each other’s burdens — both literal and metaphorical.

At the end of the trail, two Icelandic women, upon hearing what the group had accomplished, declared, “You should no longer call them boys; they are men.” One father later reflected, “We are not naive enough to think that one hike makes a man, but we are all on a journey, and I can say without a doubt these Trailmen returned home feeling a little more humble, confident, and alive.”

Their transformation didn’t come because the hike was easy. It came because it was hard. They learned to rely on each other, push through pain and discover strength they didn’t know they had. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t happen in comfort; it happens in discomfort.

Turning the Tide in 2025

 

Imagine if 2025 became the year we turned the tide. The year we raised a generation ready to face challenges head-on. The year families reconnected through shared struggle, finding strength and joy in the process. It’s not just a personal resolution; it’s a collective one, and it starts with a single step into the wilderness of discomfort.

Discomfort isn’t something to be avoided — it’s something to be embraced. It’s the ache of sore feet after a long hike, the chill of a brisk morning in a tent, or the fear before crossing a roaring glacial river. These moments stretch us, shaping us into people who are courageous, resilient and capable. They forge bonds that only shared struggle can create. They remind us that the world is vast, beautiful and often challenging — and that we are far more capable than we realize.

Adventure doesn’t have to mean trekking across Iceland or scaling mountains. It can be a weekend camping trip, a day hike or even building a treehouse in the backyard. What matters is that it’s real, tangible and shared. In these moments — far from screens and creature comforts — families grow stronger and individuals find their resilience. These shared moments remind us that life’s greatest rewards often lie just beyond the hard things we choose to tackle.

Start Here

 

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple idea: plan one outdoor adventure a month. It doesn’t have to be extreme — just something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Plan a family hike, start a garden or join a local organization like Trail Life USA. Small steps lead to big transformations.

Parents, these shared adventures offer another unexpected gift: the chance to grow ourselves. Every family that embraces adventure will face moments of doubt. “What are we doing? Are we crazy? We could be home, warm and comfortable.” But that’s the point. You could be. But you’re not. Instead, you’re modeling what it means to face challenges with courage, lean into discomfort and build deeper connections with those you love.

This year, let’s resolve to give our sons — and ourselves — the gift of challenge. The path won’t always be easy. But the reward? A generation of courageous, confident individuals — and families who wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.

Mark Hancock is the CEO of Trail Life USA, a character, leadership, and adventure organization that is both Christ-centered and boy-focused. Trail Life USA partners with churches and parents across America as the premier national character development organization for young men which produces generations of godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. In over 1,250 churches in all 50 states, and over 60,000 members, fathers and sons are connecting, relationships are deepening, and legacies are beginning as a new generation of godly leaders rises.

You Might Also Like

10 Reasons to Love Your Mom!

Building Community to Break the Silence of Loneliness

Delaying Manhood, Developing Manliness

Maine Loses Federal Funding Over ‘Dangerous’ Transgender Inmate Policy

Faith is a Muscle — Exercise it Daily

TAGGED:ChallengeIce Land

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Threads Email Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Surprise0
By Mark Hancock
Mark Hancock is the CEO of Trail Life USA, a character, leadership, and adventure organization that is both Christ-centered and boy-focused. Trail Life USA partners with churches and parents across America as the premier national character development organization for young men which produces generations of godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. In over 1,250 churches in all 50 states, and over 60,000 members, fathers and sons are connecting, relationships are deepening, and legacies are beginning as a new generation of godly leaders rises.
Previous Article crime-scene Andy McCarthy Rips FBI’s ‘Woke Incoherence’ For Not Immediately Referring To New Orleans Massacre As Terrorism
Next Article las-vegas-bombing Soldier In Las Vegas Cybertruck Explosion Appears To Have Had PTSD, Heavy Guilt, Police Say
Donate Now

Search Articles

- Advertisement -
Ad image
- Advertisement -
Ad image
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Latest News

Tastries Bakery Owner Cathy Miller Faces Ongoing Legal Battle Over Religious Freedom
California Supreme Court Denies Cake Artist’s Plea, Case Heads to U.S. Supreme Court
Business
A street preacher was arrested for sharing the Gospel near Broadway—but a judge’s swift dismissal of the case is being hailed as a First Amendment win and a warning to cities targeting evangelists.
NYC Judge Dismisses Charges Against Street Preacher in Win for Religious Liberty
Church
eaton-bible-shirts
Christian Worker Reaches Settlement After Firing Over Bible-Themed T-Shirts During Pride Month
Business
graduation-speech
Valedictorian’s Faith-Filled Speech Triumphs Over Censorship Attempt
Education
- Advertisement -
Ad image
- Advertisement -
Ad image
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

- Advertisement -
Ad image
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
TruthFollow

You Might Also Like

pro-life-nyc-attack
Family

Pro-Life Activist Assaulted During Street Interview in New York City

April 4, 2025
A Texas family leans on faith and forgiveness after 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed at a track meet. Honor student and athlete’s legacy lives on.
Family

Texas Family Finds Strength in Faith After Teen’s Tragic Murder at Track Meet

April 4, 2025
A deeply personal story of redemption and healing after abortion. Tammy De Armas shares her journey from heartbreak to hope, revealing how faith and forgiveness transformed her life.
Family

Fallen on the Battlefield

April 2, 2025
Discover how love, the unseen force greater than armies or elements, shapes history, moves mountains, and transforms lives in this profound reflection by Maureen Steele.
Family

Love: The Unseen Force That Moves the World

March 31, 2025
Previous Next

Daily Report

Quick Links

About

Advertising

Subscriptions

Affiliates

Directory

Links

Linktree

Marketing

 

Thrive News Co.Thrive News Co.
Follow US
© 2024 Thrive News Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
thrive-news-studio
Subscribe Today

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss the latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?