So, if the Lord will not lead believers through tough times until He deems the ready, what did Jesus mean when he said:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7: 13-14)
Like every other passage, warning, and stern exhortation in the Sermon on the Mount, let us look at this passage from the perspective of the Finished Work of Jesus Christ.
For instance, everyone of us must look over the preceding verse on Matthew 7, which speak of God's infinite supply for His children:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
"Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7: 7-11)
These gifts are granted to every believer through the Gift of the Holy Spirit:
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)
and
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
This gift of the Holy Spirit was accorded with abundance of grace on the Day of Pentecost:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:33)
Therefore, by the Power of the Holy Spirit we can do all things for men without requiring payment, because Christ paid for all at the Cross, ever supplying us through the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:19)
For the believer, the only remaining "straitened" circumstance is a growing love of God which tugs at us to go home and be with God:
"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" (Philippians 1:23)