Adversity reveals genius; prosperity covers it up. (Roger Staubach, former football star)
Anyone who stars in competitive professional sports, as Staubach did, has faced lots of physical and mental adversity. Staubach demonstrated brilliance in handling those skirmishes. In life, when things are going really well and there are no great challenges, people tend to relax and fail to give their best effort. As a result, their innate abilities may not be discovered.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. (Isaiah 30:20)