If I could go back and chart the greatest episodes of growth and spiritual depth in my life, they ALWAYS occurred during times of adversity and pain I mean without exception. None of us will ever truly grow closer or go deeper with God apart from pain.
The fact of the matter is, grass grows thicker and greener in the valley than it does on the mountain top. And so it is with us. We grow more in character and spirituality in the valleys of life, than we do on the mountain tops of life. That's just the way it is, just as fire purifies gold, just as abrasion polishes metal, just as heat strengthens and tempers steel, just as boiling water brings out the flavor of tea. We, too, must enter times of adversity, fire, pain and suffering if we are going to ever be fully refined in our character, and drawn to a deep abiding relationship with Christ, apart from the brokenness and pain, that comes through suffering and adversity.
Hard to read, harder to believe, nontheless true...
