A thorny path: an idiom meaning a difficult, hardship-filled course or choice; used figuratively to describe arduous situations.
起業は茨の道だが、やりがいがある。
Starting a business is a thorny path, but it's rewarding.
彼女のリハビリは茨の道だったが、少しずつ回復した。
Her rehabilitation was a tough road, but she recovered little by little.
政治家の道は茨の道とも言える。
One could say the path of a politician is a thorny one.
茨の道を乗り越えるために家族が支えてくれた。
His family supported him to overcome the thorny path.