Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it.  ~M. Scott Peck

    Most of us don't like it when things are difficult, when life throws obstacles in our path.  In many cases, we do whatever we can to avoid difficulties.  That is a very human thing to do, but it often is not the wisest thing to do.  Our greatest learning usually comes though the difficulties we experience.  Difficulties enable us to sympathize with others who are having difficulties.  Job isn't the only person in the Bible who was put through difficulties in order to awaken his spiritual potential.  St. John of the Cross write about it in "The Dark Night of the Soul". 
    In truth, many of the difficulties we avoid, or the things we fear, are not harmful to us at all.  We avoid them because they are harmful to our ego, or at least the ego thinks so and therefore encourages us to avoid them.  This includes, of course, spiritual development.  The ego fears that it will be shoved aside and ignored if you do that.  You need to tell your ego that simply isn't true.  Your Soul and spirit will work with your ego to make it wiser and healthier, not destroy it.