It is said that people won't die from the hardness of life. But they can die from hardness of heart.
But the hardness of heart is often developed from the hardness of life.
When life is hard, and there is no love in life, then the heart becomes hard and cold.
Christianity is founded on love and centred on love.
That is why Jesus asked Peter about his love.
There must be love in following Jesus and in doing what Jesus wanted him to do.
It is with love that Peter will be able to stretch out his hands and be taken to where he would rather not go.
Similarly, it is with love for God and for others that we will be able to do what we would rather not want to do.
The power of love will ease the hardness of life and soften the hardness of our hearts.