I heard a great analogy during our weekly mindfulness group session:

Meditation practice is lot like finding a peaceful serene lake deep in a forest.

At first, it can be a struggle to find your way through all the underbrush.

You know the lake is there but each time you try to visit, you find yourself trekking through difficult vegetation and terrain.

With time and through practice, you can create a path that leads you more easily to that place of peace.

That is the benefit of regular mindfulness practice. As you practice, you strengthen your ability to find calm in the present moment.